Analyzing the stress state of a thin-walled cylindrical tank, depending on the design features

Abstract

Abstract The problem of the rational hole location on the surface of a thin-walled cylindrical gravity tank was studied in order to minimize the stresses around the concentrator. The studies were carried out for three cylindrical tanks with internal diameters of 250, 400 and 500 mm, respectively, with a height of 500 mm and a wall thickness of 20 mm. The diameter of the hole in the tank wall was varied as follows: 6, 10, 14, 18, 20, 23, 25, 30, 32, 36, 40, 45, and 50 mm. The holes were located on the lateral cylindrical surface of the tank, with the following variation of the location heights in relation to the total length of the cylinder element: 4/8, 3/8, 2/8, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32. As a result, it was determined that the increase of the internal diameter of a cylindrical tank increases the equivalent stress around the concentrator. Within some ranges, a change in the diameters of the hole does not actually affect the stress pattern. Using the holes of certain diameters can reduce the stresses around the concentrator.