Limit pressures for spherical vessels with radial branches of differing protrusion lengths

The effectiveness of the length by which a radial branch pipe extends within a spherical pressure vessel is discussed with reference to the plastic limit pressure of the vessel and the design rules of BS 5500. Lower bound limit pressures are calculated using a non-linear programming method, the stress resultants being expressed in polynomial form. The material was assumed to be rigid-plastic and to obey the von Mises yield criterion.