2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
(OP)
Hi all,
I understand that 2:1 Ellipsoidal head has crown radius (L) = 0.9D and Knuckle radius (r) = 0.17D. So is it true that 2:1 Torispherical head has the same crown radius and knuckle radius as 2:1 Ellipsoidal head ? If yes, Can someone guide me where to find this information.
Or someone can guide me where to find information regarding above to let me have a good understanding.
Thanks and cheers.
I understand that 2:1 Ellipsoidal head has crown radius (L) = 0.9D and Knuckle radius (r) = 0.17D. So is it true that 2:1 Torispherical head has the same crown radius and knuckle radius as 2:1 Ellipsoidal head ? If yes, Can someone guide me where to find this information.
Or someone can guide me where to find information regarding above to let me have a good understanding.
Thanks and cheers.





RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
For ellipsoidal the crown radius L is obtained from Table UG-37.
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
Torispherical (spherical dished) head has L= inside spherical or crown radius and r = inside knuckle radius
Ellipsoidal head 2:1 means that inside diameter is 2 x inside depth of head
UG-32 (C): An acceptable approximation of a 2:1 ellipsoidal head is one with a knuckle radius of 0.17D and a spherical radius
of 0.90D
Regards
r6155
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
However, in my opinion, that is a geometric approximation only. The two heads have very different stress results, particularly at the edge of the so-called knuckle. In fact, if you calculate the required thickness of this "equivalent" 90-17" torispherical head using the rules in Appendix 1-4, you will end up with a thicker head than a pure 2:1 semi-elliptical. This is recognized as a problem/inconsistency in the Code, and one that I have the privilege of acting as Technical Project Manager (in SG-Design of VIII) to correct. I (along with a few colleagues) are also writing a "whitepaper" on the subject that will be published at the 2017 PVP Conference.
So, I know this topic inside and out. Go ahead and ask any more questions...
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
Regards
r6155
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
To avoid problems I propose to delete the last sentence of UG-32 (c): "An acceptable approximation of a 2:1 ellipsoidal head is one with a knuckle radius of 0.17D and a spherical radius of 0.90D"
Regards
r6155
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
Come to think of it, is the inside surface supposed to be an ellipse, or the outside, or the middle surface, or the middle surface of the corroded profile or what? I'm thinking that when you offset an ellipse by a given thickness, the offset curve is no longer an ellipse. Normally, theoretical analyses assume the middle surface is the exact profile.
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
JStephenIt's the inner surface. Because when the head manufacturer forges the head, his die is for the ID. he can make many different thickness heads with the same die just by changing the blank thickness.
Here's where things get a little bit more complicated - the information that I have been provided by head manufacturers (and I am very interested to hear from other head manufacturers) is that sizes greater than ~4' dia will not be forged with an elliptical die, but rather bumped and spun, meaning that they will be torispherical heads. So, with UG-32(c), even if you order a 2:1 semi-elliptical head, over 4' dia you will likely get the equivalent torispherical head.
What makes this important for me is that, as an FEA guy who often gets called when manufacturers need to do things like put nozzles into head knuckles, even if the drawing says a 2:1 semi-elliptical (and the calculations show the thickness for a 2:1 semi-elliptical), it may in fact be a 90-17 torispherical. And this would make a huge difference in the stress state for a nozzle in said knuckle.
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
(b) Hemispherical heads or any spherical portion of a
torispherical or ellipsoidal head designed for external
pressure shall, in addition to satisfying (a) above, meet
the tolerances specified for spheres in UG-80(b) using a
value of 0.5 for L/Do .
We can’t do thickness calculation as ellipsoidal head and then inspect as torispherical. I always inspect ellipsoidal head with template made with dimensions according to ellipsoidal.
Regards
r6155
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
1- In my discussions with head manufacturers they will generally form the heads so that the inner surface is ellipsoidal. But this needn't always be the case, one could pay the piper (or for head fabricator) to form the head to any desired configuration.
2- Yes, it's mathematically true (and practically so, as well) that a curved line "parallel" to an ellipse is not itself an ellipse.
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
I've been working in pressure vessels since '86 and never built, bought or specified a T.E head. Ever.
Back in the 1950s when vessels were designed on a slide-rule, T.E heads made some sense.
Why?
Well, stresses in spheres and toroids were very well understood at the time [Timoshenko, etc.], and a T.E head is simply a part of a sphere attached to a part of a torus, attached to a cylinder: a fairly simple calculation. S.E heads were a bit of a black art back then, being designed on empirical bases.
In the modern (computer) age I cannot see any justification for a T.E over an S.E and I do not think I will use them ever again.
PS: If a sub-supplier has difficulty rolling an S.E head to your requirements, maybe he is not the one for you .....
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
I will also refer you VIII-2 4.3.6 and 4.3.7, whereby the thickness of 2:1 semi-elliptical heads are explicitly calculated using the 90-17 torispherical head approximation.
p.s. your abbreviations T.E and S.E are not understood on this side of the pond. I find that abbreviation generally don't translate well - which is why I have taken the pains to spell out as much as I can...
p.p.s. Elliptical heads are generally pressed, not rolled. Torispherical heads are generally rolled/spun.
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
YES, and Code tolerances apply.
I will also refer you VIII-2 4.3.6 and 4.3.7, whereby the thickness of 2:1 semi-elliptical heads are explicitly calculated using the 90-17 torispherical head approximation.
Yes, and what is wrong with that? I never said that design of S.E heads is anything other that empirical (see above). Code design rules.
p.s. your abbreviations T.E and S.E are not understood on this side of the pond...
Do not care. You say tomato and I say tomato. We are not all Americans, please accept.
p.p.s. Elliptical heads are generally pressed, not rolled. Torispherical heads are generally rolled/spun.
Yep, my fault. Thanks!
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
The design rules in 4.3.6 are most certainly not empirical, but quote rigorously scientific, evaluating multiple failure modes.
Indeed we are not - I am not American either. Many on here don't even speak English as a first language. If you want yourself to be understood, you may want to keep the lingo/abbreviations/shorthand to a minimum.
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
(I) "the thickness of 2:1 semi-elliptical heads are explicitly calculated using the 90-17 torispherical head approximation" [i.e., empirical]
and yet later you say that:
(II) "the design rules are most certainly not empirical, but quote rigorously scientific [ ... ?], evaluating multiple failure modes"
Could you explain whether the design rules for S.E heads are based on rigorous science (as you say in II), or empirical bases (as you say in I)?
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
I'm not so sure how happy I am with the approximation in 4.3.7 (approximating a 2:1 semi-elliptical head with a 90-17 torispherical head), but if that is, in fact, what head manufacturers are providing for semi-elliptical heads above certain sizes anyway, then it really doesn't matter, does it?
Nevertheless, the biggest concern is that although the 2:1 semi-elliptical head and the 90-17 torispherical head, although from a geometric perspective they appear to be close enough approximations, the stress results from them are anything but. Apparently, shells of revolution are extremely sensitive to minor variations in shape
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
Thank you for that:)
Regards,
Mike
The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
I know this post is a few months old but I did not think I needed to create a new one since it is exactly about this topic.
First of all, thank you all for sharing your thoughts on this, really great discussion.
I understand the "inconsistency" of this approximation and I share the thoughts of TGS4 on this. However I still have one question, on designing using the formula provided on UG-32(d) and by the aproximation of 90/17 using 1-4(d) I end up with a thickness 1.19 times higher when calculating as a torispherical head. I also plotted the ratio between these thicknesss varying diameter,pressure,allowable stresses and when comparing, this ratio remains always the same.
So I ask, when designing a vessel if I specify a semi eliptical head say of minimum thickness X, and my head manufacturer supply me with a approximated torispherical head of minimum thickness X, is this vessel code compliant? I ask because this 20% thickness difference, that on one hand helps saving money, but on the other hand can lead to safety issues. What is your opinion on that.
Kind Regards,
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
Btw, I am putting forward a proposal at the August Code Committee meetings to delete the equivalency in UG-36(c), per r6155's suggestion above. The proposal will also require head manufacturers too explicitly state which shape they are using. And, it will impose the external pressure tolerances on thin heads where knuckle buckling is a governing condition. Ideally, I would like to completely replace the VIII-1 head rules with what's in VIII-2, but that may be a tougher sell. Comments from the community?
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
The way I see, if it goes with only deleting the UG-36(c), the head manufacturers that supply "false" elipsoidal heads will either have to adapt their technology (high costs for them), or the designers will have to stop specifying "true" elipsoidal heads, hence adding more cost to the project as the thickness calculated by the "false" elipsoidal head is about 20% higher.
The scenario today is designers specifying "true" heads and getting "false" heads. Good for the investor (less cost on head plates), good for the manufacturer (no need to invest in different dies). However, it is indeed an engineering problem, one has to define if this approximation can or cannot be made and the rest will be consequence for that.
In my humble opinion, I think the best way would be as you described, completely replacing the rules of division 1 by the rules on division 2. This way we would be getting always "false" elipsoidal heads, but that is what we would be designing for. But as you said, a tough sell to be made.
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
I'm certain this wouldn't fall under the ASME B&PV Working Group remit but what are the thoughts to adding detail within API 579 on what considerations should be made if assessing wall thinning damage - or other damage mechanisms - in the region of the head where there is a compressive circumferential stress. Perhaps a sentence or two within the 2C.3.5 or 2C.3.6 on the geometric sensitivity and taking actual measurements using a template, plumb line and/or laser etc.? Possibly something within Part 5 of ASME VIII-2 also to cover instances where features are added to this region.
RE: 2:1 Elliptical Vs 2:1 Torispherical Heads
IE, if you have the physical head in front of you, is there any way to confirm which profile it was intended to represent?
So far as changing up the code, I'm not seeing what problem that solves.
I'd be curious if those two profiles get closer together when pressurized.