We do a lot of FEA design of pressure vessels using Cosmosworks (and

Geostar), using both shell and solid element models. As TGS4 alludes to,
there is a lot to learn on the subject, but here are a few pointers that we
follow and may be helpful for you:

1. Meshing with solid elements is typically easier, but membrane and

bending can't be separated out (as with shell elements). That's where WRC
429 comes in handy with methods for linearizing the stresses in solid
models.

2. Membrane stresses near discontinuities are typically classified as local,

and thus are subject to the 1.5Sm (or 1.8Sm in your case) limit. There may
also be bending stresses, which are typically classified as secondary, thus
you will also have to check that P+Q (max of top or bottom) is less than
3Sm. Note that you only get the 20% increase for primary stresses.

3. Bending stesses are typically classified as secondary unless they are in a

flat section (flat head or crown of dished head). In these areas, top and
bottom (for shells) is your PL or PM+PB classification, limited to 1.5Sm.

4. General membrane is typically found "away" from discontinuities. At

these locations, you should see the membrane value is very close to the top
and bottom values.

5. Be very wary of picking values at one node and calling it the max stress.
Imagine applying a force to 4 nodes 90deg apart around a nozzle opening
(see points ABCD in WRC 107); where do you think the high stress will be?
Yep, at those 4 nodes. But look at the adjacent nodes, chances are the
stress attenuates rapidly to a much lower (and allowable) value. Choosing
the average stress of the nodes surrounding this "point" node IMO is more
accurate. Remember, FEA is an approximation.

Performing an FEA in Section VIII, Division 1 to Qualify an

Article U-2(g) Component
While there are currently no explicit rules on how to perform a finite element
analysis (FEA) if you are doing so in support of an ASME Section VIII, Division
1 vessel, there is good practice. Regarding rules, all you have is from Article
U-2(g), which says:

This Division of Section VIII does not contain rules to cover all details of
design and construction. Where complete details are not given, it is

intended that the Manufacturer, subject to the acceptance of the Inspector,

shall provide details of design and construction which will be as safe as
those provided by the rules of this Division.
So, how exactly does an engineer perform an FEA, for which Section VIII,
Division 1 has absolutely no rules, that is as safe as the rules otherwise
provided in Section VIII, Division 1? Luckily, Im not the first person to think
about this. In fact, there is some pretty decent guidance in API 579/ASME
FFS-1. Also, the ASME Section VIII Code Committee has formed a Task Group
on U-2(g). I have attended (as a visitor) meetings of that Task Group, and
can report that they are looking at far more than this topic. However, they
have drafted something which is exactly what I would recommend as good
practice.
So, here's my take on what constitutes good practice:
The allowable stress for all product forms except bolting needs to be from
Section II, Part D, Table 1 and Table 1A (i.e. the allowable stress for Section
VIII Division 1 construction).
For bolting materials the allowable stress needs to be determined from
Section II, Part D, Table 3.
Limiting values that are not calculated using the allowable stress, S, such as
fatigue and compressive allowable stresses, can be determined from the
current rules in Section VIII Division 2.
The weld joint efficiency needs to be established in accordance with UW-11
and UW-12 of Section VIII Division 1. (more on this item in another post)
The Design By Analysis Rules in ASME Section VIII, Division 2, Part 5 should
be followed. This is only possible for temperatures not in the creep regime. If
your vessel has operating temperatures into the creep regime (indicated by
the allowable stress being in italics in Table 1 or Table 1A), I would suggest
that you retain the services of an expert, because there are NO rules right
now for that situation.
ALL of the load case combinations of the applicable Division 2 assessment
procedure need to be considered in addition to any other combinations
defined by the User. In evaluating load cases involving the pressure term, P,
the effects of the pressure being equal to zero needs to be considered (this
ought to be standard practice of anyone using Part 5, but it is worth stating,
again).
All of failure mechanisms in 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5 of Part 5 need to be
evaluated. In 5.3, a component is exempt from the Local Failure Criteria
evaluation if the component design is in accordance with the standard
details of Part 4. That said, there are many details permitted in Division 1
that are not permitted in Division 2. If the component being evaluated is not
covered by a standard detail from Part 4, then an evaluation per 5.3 is
required.
When elastic-plastic analysis is performed, the required load case
combinations from ASME FFS-1/API-579 Table B1.4 Note 6 need to be used.

Evaluation of the test condition per paragraph 4.1.6.2 of Section VIII,

Division 2 is not mandatory, but consideration of the test condition per UG22(j) of Section VIII, Division 1 is mandatory.
All other requirements for construction need to comply with Section VIII,
Division 1.
It is my opinion that if a designer chooses to apply U-2(g) and then uses a
Design-By-Analysis approach, then Appendix KK ought to become
Mandatory. However, it is unlikely that will be required by the Codes.
Therefore, it is good practice for the engineer performing the FEA to ask for
as much detail as they will need to perform the analysis especially
Protection Against Failure From Cyclic Loading.
Remember that an FEA cannot be used to supersede existing rules in the
Code. This is true not just for basic design calculations such as wall
thickness, but also for weld details, PWHT requirements, NDE requirements,
etc.

Leer los siguientes guidelines:

ASME Section VIII Division 2 Criteria and Commentary

PTB-1 2014

WRC 429
3D Stress Criteria Guidelines for Application