Buckling of Cylindrical, Thin Wall, Trailer Truck Tanks and ASME Section XII

Abstract

New hazmat (hazardous material) and nonhazmat transport tanks will be constructed to the rules of the ASME Code Section XII (ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 100165990). The criteria and basis to design these tanks have been questioned and a full scale buckling test has been performed to evaluate maximum allowable overtheroad loadings and required design details. This paper summarizes the results of this testing and provides comparisons with classical Code buckling criteria, Code Case 22862 (ASME Code Case 22862, Cases of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Case 22862, “Alternative Rules for Determining Allowable Compressive Stresses for Cylinders, Cones, Spheres, and Formed Headsâ€‌) and other methods for such evaluations. The objective is to provide the ASME Section XII committee with a basis for establishing buckling design criteria and shell stiffening details for both hazmat and nonhazmat transport tanks.