Wall thickness optimization of thick-walled spherical vessel using thermo-elasto-plastic concept

A study of thick-walled spherical vessels under steady-state radial temperature gradients using elasto-plastic analysis is reported. By considering a maximum plastic radius and using the thermal autofrettage method for the strengthening mechanism, the optimum wall thickness of the vessel for a given temperature gradient across the vessel is obtained. Finally, in the case of thermal loading on a vessel, the effect of convective heat transfer on the optimum thickness is considered, and a general formula for the optimum thickness and design graphs for several different cases are presented.