FINITE-ELEMENT STRESS-ANALYSIS OF TUBESHEETS PERFORATED BY CIRCULAR HOLES IN SQUARE PITCH PATTERN

ASME has accepted the codes for the tubesheets with triangular pitch p attern, but the code standards for the square pitch pattern have not b een accepted so far. This is the motivation behind solving the present problem. This paper deals with the finite element stress analysis of a perforated plate or tubesheets with square pitch pattern. For the st ress analysis, finite number of holes and in-plane and bending loading are considered. Stress concentration factors are obtained for various ligament efficiencies The problem of cracks emanating from holes is a lso considered. Stress intensity factors for various crack lengths and ligament efficiencies are obtained.