Windows for External or Internal Hydrostatic Pressure Vessels. Part VII. Effect of Temperature and Flange Configurations on Critical Pressure of 90-Degree Conical Acrylic Windows Under Short-Term Loading

摘要

Conical acrylic windows of 90-degree included angle and 0.083 to 0.775 thickness-to-minor-diameter (t/D) ratios have been tested to ultimate failure under short-term hydrostatic loading. The ambient temperature was varied from 32F to 90F and the relationship between minor window diameter (D) and minor window cavity diameter in the flange (Df) varied from 0.970 to 1.500. The test results show that the critical pressure of identical windows at 90F is approximately 10% to 20% less than at 70F, and at 32F it is approximately 15% to 25% more than at 70F. To improve the critical pressure of 90-degree conical acrylic windows, it is recommended that such windows be designed with a window/flange mismatch ratio of D/D greater than 1.00, the exact magnitude depending on the window's t/D ratio, service, and design considerations. (Author)