Session: DA-09-01 Piping and Equipment Dynamics and Dynamic Response Analysis

Paper Number: 106474

106474 - A Simplified Method for Analyzing Pressure Vessel Response to Explosion Generated Drag Loading 

A simplified method for analyzing pressure vessel response to blast overpressure incidents was developed, refined, and verified in papers PVP2021-61854 and PVP2022-84746. The simplified method presented in the two papers showed how it was possible to analyze the loading and effects of a blast wave generated by an explosion (positive phase overpressure incident) on vertical pressure vessels without utilizing traditional analysis software. However, the simplified method presented in the two papers did not consider or provide provisions for examining equipment loading solely from explosive generated drag loading (negative phase over-pressure event). During the execution and detailed design of an offshore liquified natural gas (LNG) facility, drag loads were added as part of the design criteria for certain pressure vessels by the offshore classification society and the third-party health safety and environmental (HSE) group contracted to study the possibility and probability of an explosion. This paper will show the development, implementation, and results from a simplified method for analyzing pressure vessel response to drag loading which utilizes the dynamic load factor (DLF) and assumes a single degree of freedom (SDOF) system to remove the use of any specialized finite element analysis (FEA) software from the analysis. The paper will examine the actual pressure vessels and applicable design loads which were required to be evaluated by the project and compare the results of simplified analysis to a traditional analysis which uses an industry standard structural analysis FEA software. The loadings which were generated by the analysis were compared to the allowable stresses in industry codes and standards for acceptance.

Presenting Author: Jacob Hundl Fluor Enterprises, Inc.

Presenting Author Biography: I graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2018 and started at Fluor the same year. I am an associate design engineer at Fluor working in the Energy Solutions business line. During my 4 years at Fluor, I have worked as a responsible engineer / design engineer on refinery, modularized gas treatment and off-shore LNG projects. Additionally, I have experience with greenfield and brownfield projects in both the government and private sectors. Currently, I am working as the lead mechanical engineer at a fabrication yard in a field engineering and construction management role for an off-shore modularized LNG project.

Authors:

Jacob Hundl Fluor Enterprises, Inc.
Barry Millet Fluor Enterprises, Inc.
Kenneth Kirkpatrick Fluor Enterprises, Inc.
Bryan Mosher Fluor Enterprises, Inc.