CAST IRON FOR PRESTRESSED HIGH PRESSURE VESSELS.

Tests were run on assembly design of a physical model of a high pressure vessel and its components or innards, inner cavity diameter 400 mm and height 750 mm, designed to take 35 MPa (350 atmospheres) pressure. Dimensions of model and testing characteristics were selected with account taken of experience in testing similar prestressed reinforced concrete models. Predicted breaking load was 60 MPa (600 atmospheres). A basic prerequisite for successful design of prestressed reinforced concrete high pressure vessels is inadmissibility of any cracks appearing on the inner surface of the vessel, which means absence of any tensile stresses. In the case of a prestressed pressure vessel assembled from cast iron elements, this constraint is retained in full force, so that the design is arrived at on a basis of recognizing inadmissibility of any butt joints opening up, i. e. , again no tensile stresses on the inner surface of the pressure vessel.