"Can we use Zick method?"
Of course! At least for evaluating the stresses in the shell. The question I've been asking for a while (with no satisfactory answer yet...) is, as alluded by Tom Barsh, "Can the Zick method be used for steel saddles welded to the shells?" After all, Zick based his study on steel vessels on concrete saddles! Why do you think those plates are called "wear plates" and not "reinforcing pads"? I've yet to see a solid justification for using Zick for welded on steel saddles. The only reasons I can come up with are 1) We (industry) have not had significant failures whith this approach; and 2) There is no alternate method short of FEA. (Yes, Leonard, I know Paulin can handle this, but I don't use his software...)
jt