The effect of proof testing on the shakedown behaviour of pressure vessel nozzles

Abstract

Cyclic internal pressure tests were conducted over several hundreds of cycles at pressures up to and in excess of the calculated proof test pressure on two nominally ‘identical’, stainless steel type 316 flush 90 degrees pressure vessel nozzles, designed and manufactured to BS 5500. Prior to this pressure cycling, one vessel was subjected to the required proof test of 1.25 times the design pressure. Significant incremental straining was recorded in the non-proof tested vessel during cycling at all pressures above the first yeild pressure (0.336 × design pressure). For the proof tested vessel significant incremental straining was not recorded during cycling until 15 percent above the design pressure.