A Computational Procedure for Calculating Primary Stress for the ASME B&PV Code

Abstract

A simple procedure for calculating primary stress consistent with the ASME B&PV Code is presented. The procedure is based on an iterative elastic analysis technique referred to as the elastic compensation method, which invokes the lower-bound limit load theorem to define maximum allowable static loads for the vessel. The method is simple to implement as an automatic computational procedure in a conventional elastic finite element program and requires minimal input from the designer.