Stresses in Intersecting Cylinders Subjected to

Pressure
Foreword
In August of 1965 the Welding Research Council published WRC Bulletin No. 107, "Local Stresses in Spherical and
Cylindrical Shells Due to External Loadings," by K. R. Wichman, A. G. Hopper and J. L. Mershon. That document
provided
engineers with guidance for the evaluation oflocalized stresses in pressure vessel shells due to various extemalloads.
Less than 20 years later, in August of 1984, the Welding Research Council published Bulletin No. 297, "Local Stresses in
Cylindrical Shells Due to External Loadings on Nozzles-Supplement to WRC Bulletin No. 107," by J. L. Mershon, K.
Mokhtarian, G. V. Ranjan and E. C. Rodabaugh. This document provided important improvements to WRC Bulletin No.
107,
accounting for local stresses in the nozzle, as well as, the vessel. The basis for the curves in Bulletin No. 297 was the
computer
code developed by Dr. C. R. Steele entitled, F AST2.
The work presented here provides the engineer with guidance for the evaluation of shell and nozzle stresses due to internal
pressure. Eqs. 1 through 4 are based on parametric studies performed with the computer code F AST2. The bulletin also
includes comparisons with other previously developed correlation equations and test data.
It is important that it be recognized that this bulletin does not present any rules for design, but it is rather intended to be an
aid in assessing the local structural integrity of the vessel. No attempt is made to educate or enlighten the individual on
stress
categorization rules of Section III or Section VIII, Division 2 of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. It is taken for
granted that the designer understands how, when and where to apply the categorization rules for calculating stresses in
accordance with the methods in this document.