Design and analysis to ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel (B&PV) as well as Power (B31.1) & Process Piping (B31.3) Code. This includes (stress, buckling, thermal, vibration, fatigue and fracture) finite element analysis.
We perform either Closed-Form Design-By-Rule Methods (ASME Section VIII Division 1) or Finite Element Analysis with Design-By-Analysis (ASME Section VIII Division 2). Experience includes:
- Design & Analysis of Pressure Vessels, Heat Exchangers +
- Structural, Seismic, Vibration & Fatigue Analysis of Equipment
- Troubleshooting & Redesign of Tanks, Superheaters
Examples:
- Pressure Vessels
- Heat Exchangers
- Piping/ Valves
- Skids
- Vessel Nozzles/ Supports
- Filter Housings
- Nitrogen Vessels
- Chemical Reactors
- Demonstration Vessels
- Rectangular Vessels
- PSA Vessels
- Bioreactors
Types of Analysis
- Stress Analysis
- Vibration & Fatigue
- Fitness for Service
- Fracture Analysis
- Design Optimization
- Fabrication Process Evaluation
- Heat Transfer
- Thermal Cycling
- Creep Ratcheting
- Linear/ Nonlinear
- Computational Fluid Mechanics
- Flow-Induced Vibrations
- Water Hammer
- Fluid Flow Analyses
- Thermal/Transient
- Shock & Impact
- Safety Evaluations
- Elevated Temperature
- Structural Integrity
Importance of Fatigue Analysis
Fatigue (from cyclic loading) is one of the most frequent causes of failure in pressure vessels, piping and process equipment. A vibrating component or system often leads to fatigue – which eventually leads to equipment malfunction, or catastrophic failure. Fatigue cracks usually initiate at the surface, and for this reason, the condition of the surface and the environment are important factors influencing fatigue behavior.
Our Expertise
Tom O’Donnell performs vibration, thermal / fatigue and failure analysis to ASME Codes. Bill O’Donnell Sr. continues to serve as a Contributing Member of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code – and has published numerous papers on fatigue and failure analysis. One such paper is “Code Design and Evaluation for Cyclic Loading – ASME Sections III and VIII.”
ASME Design & Analysis
- B&PV Section III Class 1, 2 and 3 vessels and components
- B&PV Section VIII Div. 1, 2 and 3 vessels
- B&PV Sections IX and XI
- ASME B15, B16
- ASME B31.1, B31.3, +
- ASME Below the Hook BTH-1 & B30.20
ASME Fatigue Design / Analysis
Fatigue design / analysis is performed per ASME Section III Class 1 and Section VIII Division 2. The fatigue design life evaluation procedures in Section III of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code were originally developed in the U.S. Naval Nuclear Program. Those involved were Bill O’Donnell, (Bernie) Langer, W.E. (Bill) Cooper and James (Jim) Farr – who, in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s developed the initial formulation of this technology. This Tentative Structural Design Basis for Reactor Pressure Vessels and Directly Associated Components, became known as “SDB-63.”
Section III of the ASME Code “Vessels in Nuclear Service” was the first to include specific Code rules to prevent low cycle fatigue failure. Bill, Sr. is currently active on the ASME Subcommittee on Design, and serves as a Contributing Member of the ASME (BPV III) Working Group on Fatigue Strength.
