FEA necessary for cone half apex-angle > 30deg with knuckles?

[mvc]

Hi,

I'm calculating a cone for internal pressure per ASME VIII Div.1. The cone has a half-apex > 30deg, but it has knuckles. If I read UG-32, this is a toriconical head, and it isn't required to do a Finite Element Analysis because the "cone" has knuckles. Am I right?
The customers insists for a FEA, but in my opinion it is not necessary as per code.
Thank for an answer!

 

[JoeTank]

mvc,
You are correct, ASME VIII does not require the a more detailed analysis be performed when designing a toroconical head when the one-half apex angle exceeds 30 degrees. Also, ASME VIII does not require that FEA be used for such an analysis. There are many shell analysis methods available that are not based on FEA.

Steve Braune
Tank Industry Consultants

http://www.tankindustry.com