Pressure Vessel Calculator

Pressure Vessel Calculator (ASME VIII)
CalQlata's pressure vessel calculator determines the minimum permissible wall thickness(es)
or maximum permissible pressure(s) for spherical or cylindrical pressure vessels and their
heads (Fig 1) that are subject to internal pressure, or subject to external pressure, and
conforms to ASME VIII, Division 1 design code
CalQlata's pressure vessel calculator does not include non-circular pressure vessels
The minimum required wall thickness of pressurised spheres and cylinders could be
determined using classical theory but this is not normally considered appropriate for the
safety of pressure vessels, which usually contain considerable levels of stored energy and
are frequently in close proximity to operating personnel. Moreover, physical collapse due to
external pressure is always as a result of elastic instability and far too difficult to predict using
general mathematical principles. ASME's considerable long-term experience provides far
greater confidence in minimising the likelihood of unexpected collapse, given certain design
criteria and limitations.
1. Shape
Fig 1. Pressure Vessel
The cross-section of any internally or externally pressurised vessel (container) should be

circular for maximum pressure-carrying capacity and/or stability. Moreover, it should have no
irregularities, corners or flat surfaces.
A pressure vessel is a container of any size and shape that will maintain its integrity (but not
necessarily its size and shape) against an internally or externally pressurised fluid. A properly
designed pressure vessel is one that will do so with no risk of damage, and the ASME VIII
design code is generally considered to be the most appropriate means of achieving this.
2. Cylinder
Any longitudinal container will naturally try to form a cylinder under sufficient internal
pressure. Its length will have no effect on stresses induced in an internally pressurised vessel
other than those induced by its support.
Pressure Vessels calculates the wall thickness of plain cylinders of same material and equal
wall thickness throughout. If you wish to evaluate cylindrical pressure vessels of different
diameter and material the wall thickness of each section should be calculated seperately.
Conical Head calculations may be used to evaluate conical transitions between each diameter
variation, along with any necessary reinforcement.
ASME VIII only considers membrane stresses (longitudinal and circumferential) in a
cylindrical vessel, i.e. radial stresses are ignored, which is considered reasonable given that
the maximum radial stress (equal to the internal pressure) is insignificant compared to
membrane stresses in a thin-walled cylinder.
Cylindrical vessels will always need a thicker wall than a sphere for any given diameter and
design pressure.
3. Sphere
Fig 2. Typical Heads
Any bulk container will naturally try to form a spherical shape under sufficient internal
pressure.
Pressure Vessels calculates the wall thickness of plain spheres of same material and equal
wall thickness throughout.
ASME VIII only considers membrane stresses (circumferential) in a spherical vessel, i.e.
radial stresses are ignored, which is considered reasonable given that the maximum radial
stress (equal to the internal pressure) is insignificant compared to membrane stresses in a thin-
walled cylinder.
Spherical vessels will always need a thinner wall than a cylinder for any given diameter and
design pressure, which is why very large pressure vessels tend to be spherical.
4. Heads
A cylindrical vessel head is a closure, lid or cap (Fig 2) of consistent material and wall
thickness throughout except as described in Skirt and Knuckle below
Skirt is a cylindrical section that forms the interface to the cylinder or connection flange, the
wall thickness of which should be at least the same as the vessel to which it is attached. All
head volumetric calculations include a skirt length equal to the minimum value recommended
by ASME of;
3 x wall thickness + half an inch.
Knuckle is a radiused transition between the head and the skirt of diameter at least 6% of the
skirt diameter. Whilst the minimum calculated material thickness for transition knuckles
according to the ASME VIII design code is generally less than the calculated minimum wall
thickness for the head and cylindrical vessel, Pressure Vessels assumes this wall thickness to
be the same as its head for volumetric calculations.
Hemispherical is a hemisphere with the same diameter as its skirt. No knuckle is required for
these heads.
Ellipsoidal is half an ellipse where the head depth (minor axis) is equal to one quarter of the
skirt diameter (major axis). No knuckle is required for these heads.
Torispherical has a crown (segment of a sphere) radius equal to the skirt diameter and a
transition knuckle.
Toriconical is a simple cone with a knuckle transition at its skirt. ASME VIII does not limit
the included angle of internally pressurised toriconical heads
Conical is a simple cone that finishes at the vessel with a sharp transition. No knuckle is
required for these heads but reinforcement may be required inside the interface. ASME VIII
recomends that the included angle of internally pressurised conical heads does not exceed
60
5. Pressure
The design pressure of any pressurised container is the difference between the internal and
external pressure. For example; if a pressure vessel is exposed to an internal pressure of
100psi and an external pressure of 35psi, the design pressure for the vessel will be an internal
pressure of 65psi (65 = 100 - 35)
Internal and external pressures should include the effects of head-pressure (pressure due to
fluid depth), especially if the pressurising fluid is a liquid, and as head-pressure varies with
depth the design pressure at the top of a liquid container need not be as great as that at its
base.
For example; if a 500 inch diameter vessel is 90% filled with a fluid of density 0.0362lb/in
and an over-pressure of 30psi is applied at the surface of the liquid, the maximum pressure at
the top of the vessel will be 30psi whilst the maximum pressure at its base will be 46.29psi
(46.29 = 90% x 500 x 0.0362 + 30)
6. Internal (pressure)
A shell or cylinder of constant material quality and wall thickness exposed to internal
pressure will always equalise hoop, radial and longitudinal stresses throughout, and failure
will occur due to the combined effect of these stresses exceeding UTS.
Maximum possible pressure without inducing permanent deformation will occur immediately
prior to the combined stress reaching yield.
Maximum allowable pressure is that which induces an allowable stress (), which is a
specified fraction (< 1.0) of yield stress and generally referred to as material utilisation.
7. External (pressure)
A shell or cylinder of constant material quality and wall thickness exposed to external
pressure will always deform as a result of elastic instability. Failure will occur when a
change in shape is sufficient to concentrate stresses such that yield stress is exceeded locally
prior to expectations.
In all vessel shapes, the level of instability is entirely due to the ovality of the manufactured
section. The greater the out-of-roundness, the quicker the shell will collapse.
8. Ring Stiffeners (cylinders & external pressure only)
Fig 3. Three I-Beam Stiffening Rings
Internal and/or external stiffening rings (Fig 3) increase elastic stability and are often installed
at regular intervals in externally pressurised vessels to minimise wall thickness. You can
minimise total vessel weight by optimising stiffener; material, section and longitudinal
spacing. However, to eliminate galvanic corrosion and improve weldability the pressure
vessel calculator assumes stiffener material to be the same as that of the vessel wall.
Stiffeners are added to internally pressurised vessels only to accommodate localised loading
due to supports, closures, openings, etc., they will not affect wall thickness.
Reinforcement stiffeners are not included in vessel volume calculations.
9. Welding
As all pressure vessels must to be welded using certified materials and coded welders, weld
joint factors (WJF) between 0.9 and 1.0 are the norm in their design.
10. Variable Plate Thickness
Whilst there is little to be gained from varying the wall thickness of small pressure vessels
and those that contain gas, the weight and cost of large vessels and those that contain liquids
can be lessened significantly by reducing the wall thickness with head-pressure (see Pressure
above). Moreover, the lower centre of gravity of large pressure vessels with a wall thickness
that reduces with height will improve stability during an earthquake. This technique may be
applied to both cylindrical and spherical vessels.
11. ASME VIII
The world's most recognised design code for pressure vessels comprises two Divisions;
Division 1 (mandatory rules): For all pressure vessels including those covered by Division 2,
and;
Division 2 (alternative rules): For fixed pressure vessels
The ASME VIII code provides design, manufacture and inspection rules for all pressure
vessels and their head(s) along with the requirements for shape variations, nozzles, closures,
openings and reinforcement.
CalQlata's pressure vessel calculator includes cylindrical and spherical shells and heads
according to Division 1, Part UG and Appendices 1 & 5.
Included in the code is a single 3D plot (D/t vs L/D vs A for externally pressurised vessels)
used to identify ASME's Factor A, along with about 60 material charts (Appendix 5, Fig 5-
UCS-28.1 to UCD-28) that identify ASME's Factor B (and elastic moduli) for various
materials at specific temperatures.
For maximum accuracy, CalQlata has mathematically modelled each plot on every chart, all
of which have been included in the pressure vessel calculator along with interpolation.
12. Fig 5 (Appendix 5)
This sub-section (Fig 5) applies only to pressure vessels exposed to external pressure.
Refer to Mandatory Appendix 5, Fig 5 (material charts) below for material chart titles
Fig 4. ASME VIII Fig 5 UCS-28.6 @ 300F
Fig 5 titles refer to the following materials:

UCD: Sub-section C, Ductile Cast Iron
UCI: Sub-section C, Cast Iron
UCS: Sub-section C, Carbon Steel
UHA: Sub-section C, Austenitic Stainless Steel
UHT: Sub-section C, Heat-Treated Carbon Steel
UNF: Sub-section C, Non-Ferrous Metal
The plots included in this group of ASME figures are logarithmic interpretations of a
modified version of the stress-strain curve for each metal concerned. The horizontal axis (A)
is base 10 and the vertical axis is a natural base
Logarithmic and non-logarithmic versions of the plot for UCS-28.6 @ 300F are provided in
Fig 4 for comparison purposes, where it can be seen that above a relatively low stress (B) a
minor increase is expected to induce a significantly greater strain (A) than would otherwise be
expected for the same material in tension or linear compression. ASME expects the maximum
permissible stress in an externally pressurised vessel manufactured from this metal to be
approximately a of that for an internally pressurised vessel.
I.e. 'A' is nominally defined by ASME as; 0.125(D/t). The relationship 'D/t' is the
reciprocal of strain in a curved vessel wall (e = y/R), where 'D' is the outside diameter of the
vessel, 'R' is its radius, 't' is its wall thickness and 'y' represents half the wall thickness or the
distance from the neutral axis to the outer fibre of the vessel wall. Therefore, 'A' represents
the expected strain.
Twice the value of Factor 'B' is used in the allowable stress calculations. Therefore
applying one eighth of the strain with twice the stress means that ASME expect elastic
instability to occur at one quarter of the material's tensile yield stress.
You are permitted to use any portion of each plot. The maximum value indicated for 'B' on
any plot is regarded by ASME as the yield stress associated with elastic instability. Any
further increase in 'B' and you can expect elastic instability to increase the risk of localised
plastic strain with little increase in stress (see Fig 4)
The maximum allowable stresses are similarly reduced for all ASME VIII-Fig 5 metals used
in the manufacture of externally pressurised vessels.
Verification
Fig 5. UCS-28.6 @ 300F

You can verify Calculated mathematical modelling of ASME's plots for factor 'B' (Division 1,
Appendix 5, Figs UCS-28.1 to UCD-28) using the co-ordinates provided below the 'Output
Data' in the Data Listing window (Fig 5). One plot is provided where interpolation has been
unnecessary, otherwise two plots are provided; one at the temperature above that entered and
one below.
Verification using your preferred spreadsheet (e.g. Microsoft's Excel) can be performed as
follows:
1) Scan-Copy the appropriate Fig-5 chart from ASME VIII and Insert into a worksheet
2) Copy one set of co-ordinates from the pressure vessel calculator
3) Paste the co-ordinates into the same worksheet as the copied chart image (1 above)
4) Select the co-ordinates
5) Select menu item "Insert" > "Chart" > "Scatter" > "with straight lines" (generate the chart)
6) Set the horizontal axis to logarithm base 10
7) Set the vertical axis to logarithm base 2.7
8) Drag the plot over the copied chart image (1 above)
9) Resize the generated chart (5 above) to fit the axes of the copied chart image (1 above)
You may repeat the above procedure for the second set of co-ordinates when provided.
An example verification plot is provided in Fig 5 where the verification plot (pale-blue dotted
line) is overlaid ASME's plot (pink line).
13. Example Calculation 1
What wall thickness(es) would be acceptable for an 800 inch diameter spherical vessel
manufactured from SA-283-D (Table UCS-23) that contains water ( = 0.03613lb/in) up to a
maximum depth of 750 inches with an over-pressure of 2bar (29.4psi, 0.2N/mm)?
Head pressure = 750 x 0.03612729 = 27.1psi)
Total pressure: at the bottom of the vessel = 27.1 + 29.4 = 46.5psi
Total pressure: at the top of the vessel = 29.4psi

Fig 6. Large Sphere
If manufactured from 160in (high) steel plate, weld seams will occur at the heights indicated
in Fig 6 and the following Table:
The depth of liquid at the bottom of each plate is calculated thus:
d = D - R.{1 - Cos(L/R)}
and the total pressure at each depth 'd' is calculated thus: p = .d + p
where:
D = total liquid depth (750ins)
R = vessel radius (400ins)
L = arc length of plate(s) from base (160ins)
= fluid density (0.03613lb/in)
d = liquid head (depth at bottom plate)
p = over-pressure (29.4psi)
p = total pressure (46.5psi)
Fig 6 shows the calculation dimensions for the 3rd plate-level
You will need to calculate the plate thickness for each pressure level assuming the entire
vessel is exposed to the pressure concerned. The following calculations (per level) are based
upon an allowable stress of 12,700psi:
Plate Arc length Liquid depth Total pressure Plate thickness
level (L) ins (d) ins (p) psi (t) ins
top 8 1256.64 -50# 29.4 0.087
7 1120 -26.89# 29.4 0.087
6 960 55.04 31.389 0.093
5 800 183.54 36.031 0.107
4 640 338.32 41.624 0.123
3 480 494.94 47.282 0.140
2 320 628.68 52.114 0.154
bottom 1 160 718.42 55.357 0.164
# Overpressure (p) only apply to these plates as the surface of the liquid falls below the
bottom of the plates concerned.
You could alter the plate thickness for each stratum or multiples thereof. However, the
thickness selected for each level must be suitable for the bottom of its lowest plate. The above
table also shows that if the vessel were to be manufactured from a single plate thickness it
must be no less than 0.164inches (4.2mm).
Whilst the above calculation procedure may also be applied to externally pressurised vessels,
plate thickness variations may exacerbate elastic instability.
Fig 7. Vessel Strata Dimensions
14. Example Calculation 2
A typical practical use for externally pressurised vessels is mid-water support buoys. These
use their buoyancy to support a weight, e.g. risers, cables, measuring equipment, etc. above
the seabed.
Question: A cylindrical buoy of minimal mass is required to lift 4000lbf (total capacity) and
operate in seawater at a depth of 325ft. What would be the dimensions of a suitable steel buoy
(ignore the effect of vessel heads for this example calculation)?
Assuming the buoy is manufactured from the same material as used in Example 1 (above),
the maximum allowable stress will be 12,700psi.
The external pressure at this depth would be 144.4psi, which is also the differential pressure
as it is assumed that atmospheric pressure (1 bar) is inside the vessel.
The buoy's lift force can be calculated thus:

F = x V - x (V - V)
Enter this formula into your preferred spreadsheet referencing the appropriate output data you
copy and paste from Pressure Vessels.
A typical calculation procedure is listed below (Fig 7):
Step 1. Enter your preferred material thickness (t) {e.g. 0.5 inches}
Step 2. Alter the internal diameter () until you have exceeded the pressure (p) required for
the depth {e.g. 166.56 psi}
Step 3. Alter the length (L) and iterate until you have exceeded the required lift force
(4000lbf) {e.g. 74 ins} see Anomaly 1 below
Step 4. Iterate the number off and cross-sectional area of the ring stiffener until you achieve
an acceptable alternative wall thickness {e.g. 0.3 ins} see Anomaly 2 below
Step 5. If you prefer to use a cylinder with stiffening rings, then recalculate the mass of the
buoy with your preferred stiffening rings and modify the lift force accordingly.
The lift force of the cylinder in Fig 7 is 4,218lbf (you may continue to iterate to optimise all
properties if you wish)
You may notice some anomolies in your results when making small changes to the input data
in Pressure vessels:
Anomaly 1: Small increases to the diameter () without increasing thickness or length may
result in an unexpected increase in design pressure.
This is due to the fact that whilst a minor increase in 'D/t' will reduce Factor 'A' in Fig UG-
28-0, the coincident reduction in 'L/D' will increase it and you may find that 'L/D' has a
greater effect on your results than 'D/t'. This is not an error in the code, it is simply due to the
way in which the code works. According to the design code, the resultant higher design
pressure is perfectly reasonable.
Anomaly 1: Adding stiffeners to a vessel increases the wall thickness.
This is due to the significant difference between '4 x B' and '2 x E x A' in UG-28 (c) Steps 6
& 7 either side of a temperature boundary in the Fig 5 plots. You will usually find that
increasing the cross-sectional area and/or number of stiffening ring(s) will reduce the
modified wall thickness (t) to an acceptable value.
It is usual to fill and pressurise buoys with an inert gas, such as N so that the buoy operates
at zero stress; i.e. differential pressure is zero and its external pressure carrying capacity is
normally designed for transient conditions.
Pressure Vessel Calculator Technical Help
A warning will be displayed if any wall thickness exceeds the maximum value (relative to
shape radius) recommended by the design code or if the wall thickness falls below 0.0625
inches as ASME VIII does not cover pressure vessels with wall this thin.
15. Units
Units are limited to Imperial: inches (ins), pounds (lbf) and degrees Fahreheit (F) in order to
ensure no conflict with the design code. You may use CalQlata's UniQon calculator to convert
back and forth between these units and those you require.
16. Conical Heads
A 'conical' head requires no knuckle so if a value is entered for the knuckle radius (i.e. r > 0)
the pressure vessel calculator will assume you are looking for a 'toriconical' head and
calculate the wall thickness accordingly. If you are looking for the wall thickness of a plain
'conical' head, you must set the knuckle radius to zero (i.e. r = 0).
Unless special analysis demonstrates to the contrary, ASME VIII does not recommend plain
conical heads with an included angle greater than 60 (see Heads above), therefore if you
enter a knuckle radius (r) of 0 and half the included angle ('') > 30, the pressure vessel
calculator will display a warning message that only toriconical cone heads are valid for this
angle. In such a case, you must either modify the angle to less than 30 or a enter a value for
the knuckle radius in order to generate a valid 't' value.
When a value of zero is entered for the knuckle radius (i.e. r = 0) the pressure vessel
calculator will always check to see if reinforcement is required for wall thickness 't'. If it is
required, the cross-sectional rea of the reinforcement is provided alongside the 't' result
{A=?}. The sectional shape and position of the reinforcement is up to you, however, ASME
recommend a maximum permissible distance from the transition (between the cylinder and
the cone) for the centroid of area of this reinforcement. The formula for calculating this
distance is provided in the Technical Help page of the program.
17. Input Data
Vessels and heads are calculated slightly differently dependent upon the applied pressure
whether it is internal or external.
Internal Pressure
You enter the desired pressure rating ('p') and Pressure Vessels calculates the minimum
permissible wall thickness ('t') according to the ASME design code.
External Pressure
You enter the expected wall thickness ('t') and Pressure Vessels calculates the maximum
permissible pressure ('p') according to the ASME design code. This method may require one
or two iterations to achieve the desired pressure rating.
(temperature): of the pressurising fluid
A (cross-sectional area): of the ring stiffener in cylindrical vessel

(number): of stiffeners in cylindrical vessel, spacing will be based upon full pitches
between all stiffeners. Pitch = L ( + 1)
L (length): cylinder length, excluding heads
Common Data
(outside diameter of vessel): the maximum value including ovality
(maximum allowable stress): for the selected material according to ASME VIII, Division 1,
Sub-section C, Tables UCS-23 to UHT-23
WJF (weld joint factor): between 0.9 and 1.0 should be used unless unknown or inferior
welding procedures are used in the vessel's manufacture
(half included angle ): of conical and toriconical heads
r (knuckle radius-inside): for torispherical and toriconical heads
18. Output Data
Internal Pressure
t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a cylindrical or spherical vessel
t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for an ellipsoidal head
t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a torispherical head
t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a hemispherical head
t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a conical head
t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a transition knuckle
External Pressure
p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for the vessel
p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for an ellipsoidal head
p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for a torispherical head
p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for a hemispherical head
p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for a conical head
A (ASME factor): equivalent strain interpolated
B (ASME factor): equivalent stress interpolated

(yield stress): of the vessel, head and stiffener materials based upon ASME VIII, Division
1, Appendix 5, Figs UCS-28.1 to UCD-28 at the design temperature ('')
I (second moment of area): minimum value for the ring stiffener for the vessel dimensions
and material (excluding vessel wall)
E (Young's modulus): of the vessel, head and stiffener materials based upon ASME VIII,
Division 1, Appendix 5, Figs UCS-28.1 to UCD-28 at the design temperature ('')
Common Data
V (internal volume): of a cylindrical or spherical vessel (excluding reinforcement stiffening

rings)
V (external volume): of a cylindrical or spherical vessel (excluding reinforcement stiffening

rings)
V (internal volume): of an ellipsoidal head including skirt
V (external volume): of an ellipsoidal head including skirt
V (internal volume): of a torispherical head including knuckle and skirt
V (external volume): of a torispherical head including knuckle and skirt
V (internal volume): of an hemispherical head including skirt
V (external volume): of an hemispherical head including skirt
V (internal volume): of a conical or toriconical head including knuckle (toriconical only) and
skirt
V (external volume): of a conical or toriconical head including knuckle (toriconical only)

and skirt
19. Verification Co-ordinates
Factor 'A' is calculated for ellipsoidal, torispherical and hemispherical heads so no

verification plot is listed for these head calculations.
20. Mandatory Appendix 5, Fig 5 (material charts)
This pressure vessel calculator has been based upon versions of the ASME design code prior
to ASME pulling Mandatory Appendix 5 for a rewrite. Therefore, the titles of each material
chart associated with Fig 5 are provided below for your information.
Fig. 5-UGO-28.0 Geometric chart for cylindrical vessels under external or compressive
loadings (for all materials)
Ductile Cast Iron:
Fig. 5-UCD-28 Chart for determining shell thickness of cylindrical and spherical vessels
under external pressure when constructed of cast ductile iron with a
specified minimum yield strength of 40,000psi
Cast Iron:
Fig. 5-UCI-28 Chart for determining shell thickness of cylindrical and spherical vessels
under external pressure when constructed of cast iron
Carbon Steel:
Fig. 5-UCS-28.1 Chart for determining shell thickness of cylindrical and spherical vessels
under external pressure when constructed of carbon or low alloy steels
(specified minimum yield stress 24,000psi to but not including
30,000psi)
under external pressure when constructed of carbon or low alloy steels
(specified minimum yield stress 30,000psi and over except for materials
within this range where other specified charts are referenced) and Type
405 and Type 410 stainless steels
under external pressure when constructed of carbon steel, low alloy steels
or steels with properties enhanced by heat treatment (specified
minimum yield stress over 38,000psi for materials where other specific
charts are not referenced)
under external pressure when constructed of SA-537
under external pressure when constructed of SA-508 CL. 2 and 3, SA-
533 CL. 1 Grades A, B, and C, SA-533 CL. 2 Grades A, B, C and D or
SA-541 Grades 2 and 3
under external pressure when constructed of SA-562 or SA-620 carbon
steel
Austenitic Stainless Steel:
Fig. 5-UHA-28.1 Chart for determining shell thickness of cylindrical and spherical vessels
under external pressure when constructed of austenitic steel (18Cr-8Ni,
Type 304)
under external pressure when constructed of austenitic steel [18Cr-8Ni-
Mo, Type 316; 18Cr-8Ni-Ti, Type 321; 18Cr-8Ni-Cb, Type 347; 25Cr-
12Ni, Type 309 (through 1100F only); 25Cr-20Ni, Type 310 and 17Cr,
Type 430B stainless steel (through 700F only)]
under external pressure when constructed of austenitic steel (18Cr-8Ni-
0.03 maximum carbon, Type 304L)
under external pressure when constructed of austenitic steel (18Cr-8Ni-
0.03 maximum carbon, Types 316L and 317L)
under external pressure when constructed of Cr-Ni-Mo alloy (S31500)
SA-669
Quenched and Tempered Carbon and Low Alloy Steel:
Fig. 5-UHT-28.1 Chart for determining shell thickness of cylindrical and spherical vessels
under external pressure when constructed of quenched and tempered low
alloy steel, SA-517 all grades and SA-592 Grades A, E and F where t
2 in
Non-Ferrous Metals and Alloys:
Fig. 5-UNF-28.1 Chart for determining shell thickness of cylindrical and spherical vessels
under external pressure when constructed of low carbon nickel
under external pressure when constructed of aluminium alloy 3003 in 0
and H112 tempers
and H14 tempers
and H112 tempers
and H34 tempers
under external pressure when constructed of nickel
under external pressure when constructed of annealed nickel-copper
alloy
under external pressure when constructed of annealed nickel-
chromium-iron alloy
under external pressure when constructed of annealed copper Type
DHP
under external pressure when constructed of annealed copper-silicon
alloys A and C Type DHP
under external pressure when constructed of annealed 90-10 copper-
nickel alloy
under external pressure when constructed of annealed 70-30 copper-
nickel alloy
and H112 tempers
under external pressure when constructed of aluminium bronze alloy
614
under external pressure when constructed of nickel-molybdenum alloy
B
temper
and H112 tempers
and H112 tempers
temper
under external pressure when constructed of unalloyed titanium, Grade
3
and H112 tempers
under external pressure when constructed of nickel-molybdenum-
chromium-iron alloy
under external pressure when constructed of nickel-iron-chromium-
molybdenum-copper alloy
under external pressure when constructed of nickel-iron-chromium
alloy 800 (annealed)
under external pressure when constructed of unalloyed titanium, Grade
2
under external pressure when constructed of nickel-iron-chromium
alloy 800H (annealed)
under external pressure when constructed of welded aluminium alloy
6061-T6, T6510 and T6511 when welded with 5356 or 5556 filler metal
all thicknesses; 4043 or 5554 filler metal, thickness in
under external pressure when constructed of welded aluminium alloy
6061-T4, T451, T4510 and T4511 when welded with 4043, 5554, 5356
or 5556 filler metal all thicknesses; and of welded aluminium alloy 6061-
T6, -T651, -T6510 and -T6511 when welded with 4043 or or 5554 filler
metal, thickness > in
and H112 tempers
chromium alloy C-276
under external pressure when constructed of solution treated nickel-
chromium-iron-molybdenum-copper (alloys G and G-2)
under external pressure when constructed of zirconium alloy 702
under external pressure when constructed of wrought chromium-nickel-
iron-molybdenum-copper-columbium stabilized alloy SB-462, SB-
463, SB-464, SB-468 and SB-473
under external pressure when constructed of nickel-iron-chromium-
silicon alloy 330
under external pressure when constructed of nickel-chromium-
molybdenum, alloy Grade C-4
X
B-2
under external pressure when constructed of zirconium alloy 705
(R60705)
under external pressure when constructed of titanium, Grade 1
under external pressure when constructed to welded copper-iron alloy
tube C19400 (SB-543 welded)
under external pressure when constructed of annealed nickel-chromium-
molybdenum-columbium alloy N06625 (SB-443, SB-444 and SB-446
in alloy 625)
chromium-iron-copper (Grade G-3) alloy G-3 whose thickness is in
and under, having a minimum yield strength of 35ksi
chromium-iron-copper (Grade G-3) alloy G-3 whose thickness is
greater than in and under, having a minimum yield strength of 30ksi
under external pressure when constructed of work-hardened nickel
under external pressure when constructed of SB-75 and SB-111 light
drawn seamless copper tubes, alloys C10200, C12000, C12200 and
C14200
Applicability
This calculator applies to any internally or externally pressurised thin-wall cylindrical

pressure vessel with formed head(s) according to the rules provided in ASME VIII, Division
1.
21. Accuracy
Accuracy is according to the rules provided in the ASME VIII, Division 1 design code
Notes
1. Stored energy is a measure of the amount of energy that would be released in the
event of a catastrophic failure
2. ASME VIII recommends that all externally pressurised conical and toriconical heads
with an included angle greater than 120 should be treated as flat heads, which are not
included in Pressure Vessels
3. Excluding nozzles and openings
4. Elastic instability is amplified local deformation (strain) due to irregular shape
5. The lower the stress at which failure will occur for a given external pressure
6. ASME VIII, Division 1, Part UG
Factor 'A': Paragraph UG-23, (b) Step 1
Factor 'B': Paragraph UG-28, (c) Step 6; Pa = 4.B (where B is ASME yield stress) &
Step 7; Pa = 2.A.E (where A is the strain factor and E is the Young's modulus {yield
stress = A.E})

Pressure Vessel Calculator

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Pressure Vessel Calculator

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Pressure Vessel Calculator (ASME VIII)

Fig 1. Pressure Vessel

The cross-section of any internally or externally pressurised vessel (container) should be

Fig 2. Typical Heads

8. Ring Stiffeners (cylinders & external pressure only)

Fig 3. Three I-Beam Stiffening Rings

Reinforcement stiffeners are not included in vessel volume calculations.

10. Variable Plate Thickness

11. ASME VIII

12. Fig 5 (Appendix 5)

Fig 4. ASME VIII Fig 5 UCS-28.6 @ 300F

Fig 5 titles refer to the following materials:

UCI: Sub-section C, Cast Iron

UCS: Sub-section C, Carbon Steel

UHA: Sub-section C, Austenitic Stainless Steel

UHT: Sub-section C, Heat-Treated Carbon Steel

UNF: Sub-section C, Non-Ferrous Metal

Fig 5. UCS-28.6 @ 300F

2) Copy one set of co-ordinates from the pressure vessel calculator

4) Select the co-ordinates

6) Set the horizontal axis to logarithm base 10

7) Set the vertical axis to logarithm base 2.7

8) Drag the plot over the copied chart image (1 above)

13. Example Calculation 1

Head pressure = 750 x 0.03612729 = 27.1psi)

Total pressure: at the bottom of the vessel = 27.1 + 29.4 = 46.5psi

Total pressure: at the top of the vessel = 29.4psi

The depth of liquid at the bottom of each plate is calculated thus:

and the total pressure at each depth 'd' is calculated thus: p = .d + p

D = total liquid depth (750ins)

R = vessel radius (400ins)

L = arc length of plate(s) from base (160ins)

= fluid density (0.03613lb/in)

d = liquid head (depth at bottom plate)

p = total pressure (46.5psi)

Fig 6 shows the calculation dimensions for the 3rd plate-level

14. Example Calculation 2

The buoy's lift force can be calculated thus:

A typical calculation procedure is listed below (Fig 7):

Anomaly 1: Adding stiffeners to a vessel increases the wall thickness.

16. Conical Heads

17. Input Data

(temperature): of the pressurising fluid

A (cross-sectional area): of the ring stiffener in cylindrical vessel

L (length): cylinder length, excluding heads

(outside diameter of vessel): the maximum value including ovality

(half included angle ): of conical and toriconical heads

r (knuckle radius-inside): for torispherical and toriconical heads

18. Output Data

t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a cylindrical or spherical vessel

t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for an ellipsoidal head

t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a torispherical head

t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a hemispherical head

t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a conical head

t (wall thickness): minimum permissible value for a transition knuckle

p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for the vessel

p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for an ellipsoidal head

p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for a torispherical head

p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for a hemispherical head

p (external pressure): maximum permissible value for a conical head

A (ASME factor): equivalent strain interpolated

B (ASME factor): equivalent stress interpolated

V (internal volume): of a cylindrical or spherical vessel (excluding reinforcement stiffening

V (external volume): of a cylindrical or spherical vessel (excluding reinforcement stiffening