Title: Numerical-based fatigue assessment of cylindrical pressure vessel having girth weld misalignment at varying load ratios

Authors: Musharaf Abbas; Rehan Qayyume; Saqib Sardar; Atiq-ur-Rehman

Addresses: Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China ' Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 37 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China ' National University of Science and Technology, H-12, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan ' Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad-44000, Pakistan

Abstract: Finite element (FE)-based numerical study of a pressurised cylindrical pressure vessel containing 50% weld misalignment at the cylinder-to-cylinder junction is performed. The work evaluates the effect of misalignment on fatigue behaviour of the pressure vessel for different load ratios to quantitatively analyse its impact in terms of fatigue life and maximum anticipated damage. Fatigue life sensitivity to varying loads is also analysed by extrapolating the fatigue life results for 50% to 150% of applied FE load. Results from an ideally perfect weld are also obtained for comparative analysis. Results of FE analysis show significant effect of misalignment on fatigue properties of the cylinder which is more prominent at higher values of load ratio.

Keywords: pressure vessels; fatigue life; finite element analysis; FEA; fatigue damage; strain life; fatigue assessment; girth weld misalignment; load ratios.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMSI.2013.057923

International Journal of Materials and Structural Integrity, 2013 Vol.7 No.4, pp.260 - 269

Published online: 12 Jul 2014 *

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