Theoretical stress analysis of intersecting cylindrical shells subjected to external loads transmitted through branch pipes

A thin shell theoretical solution of two normally intersecting cylindrical shells subjected to thrust-out force and three kinds of moments transmitted through branch pipes is presented in this paper. The solutions of modified Morley equation, which can be applicable up to ρ0 = d/D ⩽ 0.8 and λ = d/(DT)1/2 ⩽ 8 and the order of accuracy is raised to O(T/D), for the four loading cases are given. The accurate continuity conditions of generalized forces and displacements at the intersecting curve of two cylindrical shells for the four loading cases and the condition of the uniqueness of displacements are derived in this paper. The presented results are verified by experimental and numerical results successfully. They are in agreement with WRC Bulletin 297 when d/D is small.