New method of determination of limit plastic load in intersecting cylindrical shells

In this paper, the method of determination of limit plastic load in intersecting cylindrical shells using maximum relative plastic work rate criterion is discussed. Numerical elastic- plastic analysis was performed using finite-element method, shell theory, and plastic theory. The calculated limit plastic moment values are compared with the known experimental and calculated data for six prototype vessel models having a radial branch pipe loaded by a moment in the longitudinal and cross- sectional plane of the joint.