Hello everyone,
I’d like to clarify a doubt regarding the skirts used for reactor and column towers.
In many cases, I’ve seen a support beam (e.g., an IPE profile) installed inside the skirt, typically located midway or near the base within the anchor box area, as shown in the picture below. However, design codes such as ASME VIII Div. 1/2 and EN 13445-3 generally focus only on the skirt and anchor box calculations — and don’t provide specific guidance or requirements for adding a reinforcement beam inside the skirt.
I’m trying to understand how the necessity of such a support/stiffening beam can be justified:
We were considering installing an IPE300 beam inside the skirt, partly to help during lifting operations. However, it has been pointed out that this beam could negatively affect the structure, since the top and bottom rings (as well as the entire anchor ring) may not work properly — the skirt could ovalize, and the entire load might transfer to the welds between the skirt and the beam.
I plan to evaluate this by FEA, but I would also really appreciate your opinions, experiences, or any reference literature regarding this design detail. Is there any analytical method or empirical justification to support (or avoid) this approach?
Thank you in advance!
I’d like to clarify a doubt regarding the skirts used for reactor and column towers.
In many cases, I’ve seen a support beam (e.g., an IPE profile) installed inside the skirt, typically located midway or near the base within the anchor box area, as shown in the picture below. However, design codes such as ASME VIII Div. 1/2 and EN 13445-3 generally focus only on the skirt and anchor box calculations — and don’t provide specific guidance or requirements for adding a reinforcement beam inside the skirt.
I’m trying to understand how the necessity of such a support/stiffening beam can be justified:
- Is it usually based on FEA or specific local stress concerns?
- Could it be considered overly conservative or unnecessary in standard designs?
- Are there any recognized guidelines or analytical methods to define when it is needed?
- From your experience, is there any cost/benefit evaluation or design philosophy that helps decide whether to include it or not?
We were considering installing an IPE300 beam inside the skirt, partly to help during lifting operations. However, it has been pointed out that this beam could negatively affect the structure, since the top and bottom rings (as well as the entire anchor ring) may not work properly — the skirt could ovalize, and the entire load might transfer to the welds between the skirt and the beam.
I plan to evaluate this by FEA, but I would also really appreciate your opinions, experiences, or any reference literature regarding this design detail. Is there any analytical method or empirical justification to support (or avoid) this approach?
Thank you in advance!
