Burst failure analysis of plastic anisotropic thick-walled cylindrical vessels subjected to combined pressures

The analysis of the burst failure of a thick-walled cylindrical pressure vessel with plastic anisotropy under the action of internal and external pressures is carried out. Theoretical solutions for the burst pressure and the corresponding equivalent strain for the thick-walled cylindrical pressure vessel with ends closed are derived. The effects of plastic anisotropy, strain hardening, and external pressure on burst failure are discussed. The results show that the burst pressures for close-ended thick-walled cylindrical pressure vessels are dependent upon plastic anisotropy and external pressure, while the corresponding equivalent strains are only dependent upon plastic anisotropy, and the degree of the dependence is related to the strain hardening exponent of the material and on the ratio of the outer radius to inner radius of the vessel.