

Von Mises Safety Factors from AISC, ASME, AWS, ABS and DNV.

Top 10 Unity Checks for von

Mises Stress Values | Finite
Element Analysis
 Published on July 14, 2017

Eric Kuusisto, PE
FollowEric Kuusisto, PE
Pushing the envelope in design for architecture & engineering
Introduction
Most theories for developing an acceptance criterion in Finite Element
Analysis (FEA) is based on von Mises stress values (distortional energy
values), but a few depend on strain values. DNV states that the von
Mises yield function is suitable for most capacity analysis of steel
structures [1]. A non-linear FEA may analyze the structure beyond the
yield limit and try to observe a structure’s ultimate capacity by trying to
model strain-hardening effects and evaluating the acceptance the results
based on strain results. This is a more advanced analysis and only
utilized in certain situations.
Note that a von Mises stress does not consider instability (lateral-
torsional buckling, local buckling, etc.) of the structure the way the
AISC allowable stresses do. It is the theoretical limit to the strain
energy density of the material. In theory, the UC for a FEA model would
be the von Mises stress over the yield strength (UC = σvm/Fy);
representing the maximum distortion energy of that structural model.

However, that does not consider any factor of safety which considers the
degree of uncertainty. For all von Mises results, a factor of safety should
be considered with a unity check (UC) [2]. This is standard engineering
practice to take design and risk uncertainties into account.

Below is a list of allowable von Mises strengths (Fvm) that should be

utilized for a UC value (UC = σvm/Fvm). Note that this methodology is
tracking the various safety factors for different industries and utilizes the
Allowable Stress Design (ASD) methodology.

These allowable von Mises strengths (Fvm) should be compared

from FEA results utilizing service loads, not factored ultimate
loads. These references are also intended for an elastic FEA, as brittle
materials are more subject to fatigue concerns.

1. General Factors of Safety - Machine Designer's

Reference
The first resource on von Mises acceptance criteria is a list of common
general safety factors intended for the design stage [3]. The following
equations are commonly used when designing machinery components
and could come into use if check general industrial applications. This
reference is also quoted as a resource in obtaining von Mises stress
limits using FEA [2].
2. General Steel Structures - AISC
AISC Steel Construction Manual contains allowable stresses based for
manual methods of analysis. It is not intended that highly localized
peak stresses from FEA (and which may be blunted by confined
yielding) must be less than the stipulated allowable stresses [4]. For
members in shear and tension, AISC suggests the safety factor of 1.67
for a von Mises stress limit [5].

For stress concentrations and hot spots, AISC mentions highly localized
peak stresses in the section Design Basis – Allowable
Stresses. According to AISC 335-89 on pg. 5-127, highly localized
peak stresses determined from FEA, which may be blunted by
confined yielding, are not intended to less than the stipulated
allowable stresses [4].
3. Welded Connections - AWS

For most FEA results, the welding material is not modeled but the
welded connection is simplified by modeling the two parts with
bonded contact surfaces, per DNV standard [1]. If the weld itself is of
primary concern, AWS suggested a safety factor of 1.5 as a strength
design factor with von Mises stress limits on a weld [6].

4. Flat Plate Structures - API

API has its own guidelines for FEA von Mises stress limits. For simple
structures within the yield limit, it has a good reference for mesh sizing
guidelines. For flat plate structures, the following equation is for the
serviceability strength limit (yield) [7]:

API also allows for the von Mises safety factor allowable stress to be
increased by a factor of 1/3 for load cases with additional design
environmental conditions other than dead, live and seismic using the flat
plate structures code and offshore structures code [7] [8] [4]. The
required section properties should not be less than required for design
dead, live loads and seismic without the 1/3 increase.
Note that most current editions of design standards (ASCE, AISC, ACI,
IBC) no longer allow the 1/3 stress increase [9], as it allows engineers to
potentially “double-dip”, violating the code in a non-conservative way.
In lieu of using the 1/3 allowable increase, the use of updated ASD load
combinations are preferred. However, the 1/3 allowable stress increase is
still permitted with API and may be used with the von Mises unity
check.

5. Hoisting Structures - API

API lists different von Mises safety factors for structures that are used
with hoisting equipment suitable for use in drilling and production
operations [10]. This increases the safety factor utilized because
obviously the risk of hoisting equipment failing carries a much higher
degree of risk.

The load shall not exceed the maximum allowable von Mises strength
(Fvm) as listed below.

Note that API lists provisions for an ultimate strength (plastic) analysis
to be performed under either of the following conditions:

a) For contact areas

b) For areas of highly localized stress concentrations caused by
part geometry and other areas of high stress gradients where the average
stress in the section is less than the yield strength limit.

This is permitted by Saint Venant’s Principle, allowance of localized

yielding [4], and because FEA struggles to accurately capture stress
results at the point of load application. See my article on how to analyze
acceptability of FEA models with stress concentrations and hot spots.

A good methodology to use this API reference to build von Mises

acceptability for hoisted structures would be to use
the serviceability von Mises limit (Fy) for the nominal cross section
area and the plastic von Mises limit (Fu) for stress peaks or contact
areas. It may be overly-conservative to compare localized stress peaks to
the yield von Mises limit. Always verify with hand checks.

6. Pressure Vessels - ASME

ASME provides a solution to pressure vessels that may be evaluated
using a limit load analysis [11]. Limit load analysis is based on the
theory of limit analysis that defines a lower bound to the limit load of a
structure as the solution of a numerical model with the following
properties:

a) The material is elastic-perfectly plastic with specified yield

strength
b) The strain-displacement relations are those of small displacement
theory

c) Equilibrium is satisfied in the un-deformed configuration

The limit load is obtained by using FEA by incorporating the model and
small displacement theory to obtain a solution. The limit load is the load
that causes overall structural instability. The point is indicated by the
inability to achieve an equilibrium solution for a small increase in load
(i.e. the solution will not converge). After defining all relevant load case
combinations, each load case should be evaluated. The von Mises limit
is the minimum of the following two equations.

Note that the yield von Mises stress limit is modified with a temperature
ratio for pressure vessels above room temperature. The temperature ratio
(Ry) does not affect the tensile strength limit (Fu).

8. Ships & Steel Vessels - ABS

ABS has its own criteria for von Mises stress limits. For steel vessels,
the hull is the watertight body of a ship. Above the hull is the
superstructure or deckhouse. The pod is a reference to the podded
propulsions that are installed in an increasing number of modern ships
due to the advantages of propulsion efficiency and maneuverability of
the ship. The von Mises stress limits for the pod and hull below [12].

8. Offshore Structures & Mobile Drilling Units -

ABS
ABS has another standard for offshore steel structure and the buckling
and ultimate strength behavior of its fundamental structural
components [13]. ABS refers to API RP 2A-WSD [8] codes where
departures from ABS formulations are recommended. For offshore steel
structures, the von Mises stress limits are the following:

ABS has yet another standard for mobile offshore drilling units
(MODUs), which are what the barge rigs would fall into [14]. The
following is the von Mises equivalent stress criterion:

9. Shipping Containers & Portable Units - DNV

DNV is a good resource for design and analysis with FEA and for
interpreting von Mises results [1]. This standard applies to portable
offshore unit’s main structure, supports and features importing for the
functionality during the transport phase. The loads used to evaluate the
FEA results must be the factored design loads [15]. Using
these factored design loads per DNV standard, the allowable von
Mises stress limit is given. Note this is the only allowable von Mises
limit I have listed that factors the loads.

10. Offshore Structures - DNV

DNV is also good references for von Mises peak or hot spot limits [16]
[17]. This specification is concerned primarily with offshore structures
and ships but some of the same concepts may be translated over when
justifying peak stresses in FEA results. The following is the von Mises
stress limits for general FEA results.

Note that the modified limit for plates and stiffeners allows for a lower
safety factor and cannot be applied to girders, stingers, global strength
elements, load-bearing elements or buckling stability elements. The von
Mises stress limit under accidental loads (explosions, fire, dropped
objects, crashes, etc.) for plates and stiffeners is not applicable because
those members are not seen as critical for global structural stability
during extreme load cases.
DNV also lists permissible von Mises stress limits for hot spots. Hot
spots or peak stresses are defined as local peak stresses by fine FEA
meshes in areas with pronounced geometrical changes (i.e. corners) [14].
These peak stresses may exceed the stress limits established previously
for general loads provided plastic mechanisms are not developed in the
adjacent structural parts. This is addressed in a creation of a peak factor,
ηpeak, which changes based on the mesh sized utilized in the FEA
model.

For ship-shaped drilling units, DNV also has special criteria for local
peak stresses with pronounced geometrical changes (corners, etc.) that
they may exceed the previous usage factor. Based on a guidance note on
local peak stresses on FEA areas where plastic mechanisms cannot be
developed in the adjacent structural parts, the von Mises peak stress
limit is provided below. This source provides no guidance on the hotspot
criteria with regard to mesh density [17].

BONUS
These allowable von Mises strengths are based on Allowable Stress
Design (ASD). This is because it is easier to track safety factors for
acceptability. Another factor is it translates better from civil/structural
engineering to other professions like mechanical, aerospace, petroleum,
etc.

Today in Civil Engineering classes in college, Load Resistance Factor

Design (LRFD) is the gold standard; which purpose is to split the safety
factor into the load and strength portions for more precise control of
unknowns. This works great with traditional building and highway
design, but make it trickier for cross-discipline applications like FEA.

For this post, which compares safety factors suggested by different

industry standards, ASD methodology was used as it makes it easier to
track the factor of safety. There is not much literature on the reduced
strength capacity (ϕRn) compared to the ultimate loads (Qu) for von
Mises stresses.

REFERENCES
1. DNV-RP-C208 – Determination of Structural Capacity by
Non-linear FE analysis Methods (2013). pg. 16
2. Finite Element Analysis Concepts via SolidWorks – J. Ed Akin,
Rice University (2009)
3. Machine Designer’s Reference – J. Marris, P.E. (2012). pg. 14
4. AISC 335-89 – Specification for Structural Steel Buildings
Allowable Stress Design (1989).
5. AISC Journal – Combined Shear and Tension Stress (1986). pg.
125
6. AWS Journal – Stress Analysis and Design of Double Fillet-
Welded T-Joints(1998). pg. 94-s
7. API BULL 2V – Design of Flat Plate Structures (2004). pg. 19
8. API RP 2A-WSD – For Planning, Designing and Constructing
Fixed Offshore Platforms (2010). pg. 38
9. AISC Modern Steel Construction Journal – The One-Third Stress
Increase: Where is it now? (2003).
10. API SPEC 8C – Drilling and Production Hoisting
Equipment (2012). pg. 6
11. ASME Title VIII Division 2 – Boiler and Pressure Vessel
Code (2009). pg. 5-12
12. ABS – Steel Vessels - Part 3: Hull Construction and
Equipment (2015). pg. 177
13. ABS – Buckling and Ultimate Strength Assessment for
Offshore Structures - Commentary Guide (2005). pg. 52
14. ABS – Mobile Offshore Drilling Units - Part 3: Hull
Construction and Equipment (2001). pg. 64
15. DNV 2.7-4 – Portable Offshore Units (2011). pg. 22
 16. DNV-OS-C102 – Structural Design of Offshore
Ships (2012). pg. 20
17. DNV-OS-C107 – Structural Design of Ship-Shaped
Drilling and Well Service Units (2008). pg. 13

ABOUT

Eric Kuusisto is a registered Professional Engineer (Civil-Structural). He

has worked in a wide range of structural engineering projects, from
skyscrapers to transmission towers to oil & gas. Currently works for
HALFEN USA as an Technical Sales Representative. Please like and
comment!
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FollowEric Kuusisto, PE

Eric Kuusisto, PE
Pushing the envelope in design for architecture & engineering
 9 articles
3 comments
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3mo

Minh Minh
abc at 1234
Do you have PDF file ? I can't see from limit [5]
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4mo
 Krzysztof Dyk
Owner at CORDEM Sp. z o.o.
I have the same question. Do you have PDF version of this?
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