Pressure Vessels
Pressure vessels are designed to contain liquids or gases under significant pressure changes compared to ambient conditions. This chapter explores the mechanics of thin-walled and thick-walled cylinders, spherical shells, and combined thermo-mechanical stresses in pressure vessels. It also examines the applications of these principles in real-world scenarios, particularly in boilers, highlighting the importance of material selection and adherence to design codes for safety and performance.
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What we have learnt
- Pressure vessels must maintain structural integrity under internal pressure and temperature changes.
- The stress analysis of thin-walled cylinders simplifies using hoop and axial stress formulas, while thick-walled cylinders require Lame's equations due to radial stress variations.
- Combined effects of mechanical and thermal stresses must be considered in the design of pressure vessels, particularly those operating at high temperatures.
Key Concepts
- -- Pressure Vessels
- Containers designed to hold liquids or gases significantly different from ambient pressures.
- -- ThinWalled Cylinder
- A cylinder with a wall thickness that is much smaller than its radius, allowing simplifications in stress calculations.
- -- ThickWalled Cylinder
- A cylinder where wall thickness cannot be neglected in stress analysis, requiring Lame's equations for accurate stress calculations.
- -- Spherical Shells
- Thin-walled structures where the stress is uniformly distributed in all directions, often used in storage applications.
- -- Combined ThermoMechanical Stress
- The cumulative stress from both mechanical pressures and thermal changes in a material.
- -- Boilers
- Common applications of pressure vessels that operate under high pressure and temperature, requiring careful analysis of stresses.
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