Narrow Belt Stiffening for Reducing the Stress Concentrations in Joints Existing on Vessels, Pipings and Other Related Structures (Design Paper)

Abstract

It is shown, in the light of three very different case studies, that a narrow belt stiffening when suitably attached at the geometric discontinuity of a joint existing on a vessel, tank or pipe intersection, is able to produce a remarkable reduction in the stress concentration. This is reason to believe that the narrow belt stiffening, when dimensioned correctly and attached properly, may be used extensively to reduce stress gradients in joints existing on vessels, tanks, pipings and related structures. Understandably, a narrow belt stiffening should be used with great caution for junctions that do not operate at ambient temperature, being unsuitable for applications involving substantial thermal stresses.