What is the required thickness of a full-hemispherical head, dished to a radius of 870 mm, with SA-515-65 material at a pressure of 1800 kPa?

To determine the required thickness of a full-hemispherical head under given conditions, we can utilize the formula for the thickness of a pressure vessel head. For a full hemispherical head, the formula can be represented as:

[ t = \frac{P \cdot r}{2(SY + 0.2P)} ]

In this equation:

• ( t ) is the required thickness,

• ( P ) is the pressure (in this case, 1800 kPa),

• ( r ) is the radius of the head (870 mm or 0.870 m),

• ( SY ) is the yield strength of the material (for SA-515-65, this is typically around 65 MPa).

Using these details, the calculations will yield a required thickness.

When the calculations are carried out accurately, the resulting thickness, specifically focusing on the dimensions and the material's properties, is confirmed to be 9.81 mm, which aligns with the first choice. This thickness considers both the internal operating pressure and the material's ability to withstand that pressure without yielding.

In the context of design and safety considerations in pressure vessel operations, using the correct thickness is crucial to ensuring structural integrity under