Radial loads on pad reinforced nozzles in spherical pressure vessels—A theoretical analysis and experimental investigation

A theoretical elastic analysis has been carried out of the stresses due to a radial load applied to a pad reinforced nozzle in a spherical pressure vessel. Experiments have been carried out applying a radial load of 0·49 MN (50 tons) on one nozzle 0·51 m (16 in) outside diameter by 12·7 mm ($\text{1}\text{2}$ in) thick in a spherical vessel₁ 1·83 m (72 in) outside diameter by 12·7 mm ($\text{1}\text{2}$ in) thick. The pad reinforcement was 9·5 mm ($\text{3}\text{8}$ in) thick and of 0·216 m (8·5 in) radial width. The experimental results confirm the theoretical analysis for the distribution of stresses but the effect of the welds on the stresses at the shell intersections is significant.