a = tensile hoop stress 

 p. = inside pressure 

 = outside pressure 



Thick Cylinder 



Figure 1. Distribution of stresses in 



thick-walled and thin-walled 

 cylinders under internal 

 hydrostatic pressure. 



further study for application to 

 steel vessels of more than 10-foot 

 diameter and with operational 

 pressure in excess of 10,000 psi. 

 The two pressure vessel construc- 

 tion techniques which are considered 

 to be at least on par with multi- 

 layered construction so far as 

 their applicability to large high- 

 pressure steel vessels is concerned 

 are the stacked-ring and segmented- 

 wall module construction techniques. 

 This report deals with the explor- 

 atory evaluation of these concepts 

 from economical, engineering, 

 design, construction, and operational 

 viewpoints. 



Objective 



The objective of the study 

 was to experimentally investigate 

 the stacked-ring and segmented-wall 

 modular concepts for internal pressure vessels. In addition, seal systems 

 required for such pressure vessel designs were to be explored and evaluated. 



This study is an exploratory evaluation of pressure-containing capability 

 of stacked-ring and segmented-wall designs for pressure vessels of equal interior 

 dimensions. The experimental evaluation of the two pressure vessel concept 

 designs, together with the discussion of economical and operational consider- 

 ations, will be useful in determining the desirability of these concepts when 

 selection of a design for large pressure vessels required in future hydrospace 

 simulation facilities is made. The experimental evaluation of the many avail- 

 able seal designs for large pressure vessels provides a brief overview of available 

 seal systems for high-pressure vessels and their sealing capability. 



Scope of Investigation 



The study was limited both in scoipe and deptli. In scope the study 

 was limited to only two types of pressure vessel design concepts — the stacked- 

 ring and the segmented-wall modular concepts with tie-rod end-closure restraints. 

 This scope was set by a preceding study (Appendix A) which briefly reviewed 



