Determination of Burst Pressure and Location of the DOT-39 Refrigerant Cylinders

Abstract

The burst pressure of DOT-39 refrigerant cylinders is determined using both experiment and finite element analysis (FEA) approaches. The experimental burst test investigations were carried out by hydrostatic test in which the cylinders were internally pressurized with water. In the case of the FEA modeling process, these refrigerant cylinders were subjected to incremental internal pressures from zero pressure to burst pressure. Two different types of nonlinear models, uniform and nonuniform, have been developed and evaluated. These models are utilized are nonhomogeneous material conditions and analyzed in the nonlinear field. For the analysis, the required actual drawn shell properties, including weld zone properties and drawn shell thickness variations, are investigated. These properties, in addition to the blank sheet (SAE-1008) material properties, are used in the computer models. The results of the burst pressures and their locations are predicted and compared to experimental results.