Shakedown and limit analysis of defective pressure vessels

This paper presents a failure analysis of pressure vessels with defects by a direct method of limit and shakedown analysis. The defects considered are part through slots with various geometric configurations. The engineering situation considered here has practical importance in the pressure vessel industry. The results are compared with those obtained by a step by step procedure using the professional code ABAQUS and where possible, with those provided by semiempirical formulae used by industry. The limit and shakedown analysis methods are found to be more economical and more reliable than marching solutions achieved by step by step elastic plastic analysis. The effects of various part through slots on the load carrying capacities of pressure vessels are investigated. 