An analytical and numerical approach to design a type I box-shaped pressure vessel with inner tension struts

Highlights: • An optimized design for a type 1 box-shaped pressure vessel with inner tension struts was determined. • Analysis of the acting mechanical loads resulted in an analytical design. • Three numerical studies were conducted in order to optimize the analytical design. • The numerical results agree well with the analytical approach. • The results allow a first evaluation of this pressure vessel architecture and serve as a design process guideline. In order to determine the optimal design of a type I box-shaped pressure vessel with inner tension struts, an analytical and numerical approach has been performed. As such a pressure vessel has not been introduced in literature yet, the geometry is described in detail and the acting forces are analyzed first. The results of this analytical approach are used to define a reference design of the main parts, which is used as a baseline for the numerical studies. Using numerical models, the interaction between the design parameters is investigated in parameter studies in order to define a design for improved load handling. These studies serve as the steps of an efficient design process, which results in an optimized design.