Finite element, photoelastic, and strain gage stress analysis of a cylinder-to-cylinder structure

In this paper three independent methods are used to evaluate the stresses in a pressure loaded moderately thick cylinder-to-cylinder structure, with a curvature of 1.03. The experimental analyses are performed by strain gage and photoelastic techniques. The analytical analysis employs a three-dimensional isoparametric element with incompatible modes. The purpose is to 1. Provide an excellent benchmark problem, amply verified. 2. Provide further data for cylinder-to-cylinder structures. 3. Provide some assessment of the element accuracy in evaluating such structures. Within the critically stressed area of the juncture of the two cylinders, the data for the three methods are corresponding locations is shown to agree within a 3% variance. The 8-node isoparametric element with incompatible modes is shown to be a comparatively economical and accurate alternative to the experimental structural analysis for cylinder-to-cylinder components. Included within this paper is a brief discussion of the construction and testing the the experimental model and analytical model. (Auth.)