Need a Consultant

[SperlingPE]

I am working with a company to design a pressure test pit.
I am looking for a consultant (mechanical specialty) to help interpret or convert the release energy numbers that I have been given into forces that can be used to design the structure.
Has anyone run across something like this before?

 

[JStephen]

See this thread:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=320024

I would guess that your consultant is just as likely to be an SE as an ME- that's a pretty specialized field, and not something we spend a lot of time on in an ME curriculum, either.

 

[msquared48]

Is this pit linked to measuring the forces induced by explosive devices?

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

http://mmcengineering.tripod.com

 

[SperlingPE]

I understand that this is/could be a specialized area of engineering.
That is why we are looking for a copnsultant.
Any leads are appreciated.

the pit is not linked to measuring the forces.
the pit is only to contain the "potential" projectiles from the pressure vessels being tested if they are tested to failure.
there will be a "sacrificial" structure of some sort and load absorbing material (maybe sand) between the pressure vessel and the pit walls to protect the concrete pit walls.
we are trying to figure out some sort of load to be able to design the strucure.

 

[SperlingPE]

Thanks for the link
The application is large pressure vessels being proof tested or failure tested.
The vessels are filled with water and pressurized.
There are fittings on each end of the pressure vessel.
The failures tend to send the fittings flying horizontally.
So we would like to get an idea of what kind of velocity these fittings will be traveling at to design the protecting structure to absorb the energy of the fittings. The structure is expected to get deformed and be replaced.

 

[SperlingPE]

I was able to find two consultants.
This type of testing is done in the oil drilling industry so there are consultants that have studied this loading.
Thanks to all for your information