A critical review and analysis of pressure vessel structures

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the pressure vessel, starting with its background and a brief history. Then, the geometry, main components, classification, applications, materials and fabrication process of the pressure vessel are also discussed. When designing or performing optimization on the vessel, it is crucial for the designers to familiar with the types of failures and loadings, to select appropriate analytical methods to analyse the vessel. As well as the design parameters such as thickness, design pressure or allowable stresses, which can alter the performance, efficiency and safety of the vessel. Since the design of the pressure vessel is governed by the codes and standards, some of the commonly used codes are presented, with more details included for the ASME pressure vessel code.