Finite Element Analysis and Design of a Horizontal Tank on Saddle Supports

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to design and analyze a horizontal tank on saddle supports. The horizontal vessel is to store various chemicals used in today’s industry. The over all dimensions of the horizontal vessel are determined from the capacity of the stored chemicals. These dimensions are first determined. The design function is performed using the ASME Code Sec VIII Div 1. The horizontal tank design is broken up into (a) shell design, (b) two elliptical heads and (c) two saddle supports. The designed dimensions are used to recalculate the stresses for the horizontal vessel. The dimensioned horizontal vessel with saddle supports and the saddle support structure is modeled using STAAD III finite element software. The stresses from the finite element software are compared with the stresses obtained from calculated stresses by ASME Code Sec VIII Div 1 and L. P. Zick’s analysis printed in 1951. The difference in the stress value is explained. This paper’s main objective is to compare the code design to the finite element analysis. The design is found to be safe for the specific configuration considered.