ASME codes are used for pressurized equipment – vessels, piping and fittings – in North America and many other countries. ASME codes cover the design, construction, maintenance and alteration of pressurized equipment. Most commonly used ASME codes are:
- VIII-1 for vessels, towers and exchangers
- I and IV for boilers and hot water heaters
- B31.1, B31.3 and B31.5 for piping systems
- B31.3 is also used for many fittings
These are design by rules codes which provide formula methods that work if the design falls clearly within the scope of the code.
For more complex or unusual designs, ASME VIII-2 rules based on design by analysis is used in conjunction with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools. This is discussed in the FEA Stress Analysis section.
ASME Samples
These are our most popular samples – from a companies first audit vessel, simple vertical and horizontal vessels, to a more complex heat exchanger. Design calculations and shop floor drawings are discussed. More samples can be found in the ASME Blog.
ASME Articles
Our most popular articles. Why is it harder to design a vessel for external (vacuum) pressure than internal pressure? When do design by rules need to be replaced by Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for reliability – in this case for an obround nozzle? How wind and seismic loads affect the shell thickness of a tower, and how to choose between different head types. More articles can be found in the ASME Blog.
ASME Blog
This blog has more samples and articles, design guides and discussions related to ASME codes.