Introduction

Engineering desig n usuall y mean s desig n t o ensur e fitnes s fo r service . I n the pressur e vesse l industr y thi s wil l almos t alway s involv e strengt h con - siderations. Wha t follow s her e i s therefor e no t concerne d wit h genera l or ' tota l design ' whic h i s a topi c wit h fa r reachin g ramifications ; rathe r

'pressure vesse l design ' i s take n t o mea n th e underlyin g philosophy , deci - sions an d calculation s relate d t o th e desig n o f a vesse l suc h tha t i t wil l withstand th e variou s loading s applie d t o i t an d adequatel y perfor m th e service required . Fo r certai n pressur e vessel s an d relate d equipmen t preli - minary design s ma y b e governe d b y hea t transfe r an d fluid flow require - ments; suc h matter s wil l no t b e deal t wit h here . However , i n thes e case s the designe r stil l ha s t o conside r ho w th e desire d shape s o f th e vesse l ar e to b e designe d an d ho w thes e shape s wil l perfor m unde r servic e loading .