Diagnostic test systems canister weld joint analysis

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:6570073

Gerhard, M A

The Test Systems Section of the Nuclear Test Engineering Division has been developing standard components for its family of canisters. One area of concern in the design has been the weld joints between the main canister channels and the canister endplates. The Solid Mechanics Group of Engineering Mechanics performed numerical calculations on this joint with the SAP4 finite element code and answered the following questions: (1) what is the gross shear stress distribution along the weld; (2) is there a large gradient in stress due to bending; (3) how do the bolts transfer the load from the canister channel through the endplates; and (4) are the bolts equally loaded. The numerical calculations were then compared with experimental results from an experimental pull test. To perform the numerical calculations, the worst-case configuration was chosen from the family of canisters. The geometry modeled was an 86-in. dia canister with a 2.5-in.-thick end ring. The loading condition was a 400-kip canister load (100 kips per channel). The bolts were preloaded to 68 kips. The numerical calculations showed the following: (1) twisting in the endplates that produced a 38-mil separation; (2) a large variation of shear stresses along the welds, varying by a factor of 4 along the upper weld; and (3) an increase in the bolt loads substantially beyond the preload.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6570073
• Report Number(s): UCID-18750
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
COMPUTER CODES
CONTAINERS
DATA
DESIGN
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INFORMATION
JOINTS
MATERIALS TESTING
MECHANICAL TESTS
NUMERICAL DATA
S CODES
SHEAR
STRESS ANALYSIS
TESTING
WELDED JOINTS