Shakedown of Torispherical Heads Using Plastic Analysis

Abstract

The condition of shakedown is examined for torispherical heads. The reason for using plastic analysis is to account for the strengthening that heads experience when subjected to internal pressure. Cyclic pressures are considered up to an allowable burst pressure that is based on the membrane stresses of the spherical part of the head. To simulate a proof test before service cycling, cases when the applied pressure is higher for the first cycle are also included. A definition of shakedown is used that places the limit of twice the yield strength on a fatigue stress parameter range that is defined in the paper. The equivalent stress and plastic strain ranges are calculated for ten head thickness-to-spherical radius ratios. From these data, shakedown pressures are obtained as fractions of the allowable burst pressure. By giving bounds for isotropic and kinematic strain-hardening models, the results are made independent from specific cyclic material behavior. It is also shown that if an elastic, geometrically linear algorithm is used, which is unable to account for the strengthening, the fatigue stress parameter range is overestimated for the thinner heads.