Local Flexibility Coefficients for Axisymmetric Junctures

Abstract

A method of including the local flexibility due to cross-sectional warping at axisymmetric junctures is presented. Local flexibility coefficients are derived which have very general applicability in discontinuity analyses involving plate and shell elements. The effects of local flexibilities are quite significant at nozzle to vessel intersections, head to shell junctures, tube to tubesheet joints, and the like. The use of earlier plane strain local flexibility coefficients is found to be inaccurate except for junctures having very large radius-to-thickness ratios.