Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
Journal of Hazardous Materials 151 (2008) 699–709
Comparison of bursting pressure results of LPG tank using
experimental and finite element method
M. Egemen Aksoley, Babur Ozcelik ∗ , Ismail Bican
Department of Design and Manufacturing Engineering, Gebze Institute of Technology, Gebze-Kocaeli, Turkey
Received 16 January 2007; received in revised form 12 June 2007; accepted 12 June 2007
Available online 19 June 2007
Abstract
In this study, the resistance of liquefied-petroleum gas (LPG) tanks produced from carbon steel sheet metal of different thicknesses has been
investigated by bursting pressure experiments and non-linear Finite Element Method (FEM) method by increasing internal pressure values. The
designs of LPG tanks produced from sheet metal to be used at the study have been realized by analytical calculations made taking into consideration
of related standards. Bursting pressure tests have been performed that were inclined to decreasing the sheet thickness of LPG tanks used in industry.
It has been shown that the LPG tanks can be produced in compliance with the standards when the sheet thickness is lowered from 3 to 2.8 mm.
The FEM results have displayed close values with the bursting results obtained from the experiments.
© 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Burst pressure; Non-linear finite element analysis; LPG tank
1. Introduction
The LPG tanks are evaluated as pressure vessels. There is an
operating pressure that alters based on the LPG gas charged
inside, usage conditions and environment temperature. The
calculations of wall thicknesses at the applications are made
according to the hydrostatic test pressure values; not to the operating pressure. This way, a safety pressure has been formed for
wall thickness calculation. Burst experiments allow the control
of the safety pressure somehow.
The tanks produced for charging and transportation purposes
are being...