Efficiency Determination

ASME Section VIII, Division 1

Session Objectives
Determine when to apply a joint efficiency "E" in
pressure vessel design calculations.
Review and understand the terms joint "category"
and "type".
Determine the correct "E" value based on joint type
and degree of radiography.
Review ASME stamping requirements when
radiography is performed.
Solve sample problems

Referenced Code Paragraphs

UG-27 Shells under internal under pressure.
UG-32 Formed heads, pressure on the concave side.
UW-3 Welded joint category.
Figure UW-3 Illustration of Welded Joint Location.
UW-12 Joint efficiencies
Table UW-12 Maximum allowable joint efficiencies
UG-116(e) Required marking (nameplates or direct
stamping)

UG-27 Thickness of Shells Under Internal

Pressure
An efficiency value "E" applies only to shells under
internal pressure.

Pressure
Shell in tension

Shell in compression

UG-27 Thickness of Shells Under Internal

Pressure
E = joint efficiency for, or the efficiency of appropriate joint
in cylindrical or spherical shells, or the efficiency of
ligaments between openings, whichever is less.

UG-32 Formed Heads and Sections,

Pressure on the Concave Side
E = lowest efficiency of any joint in the head; for
hemispherical heads, this includes head-to-shell joint
tension

compression
-------------------!--------------------

Pressure

Concave

Convex

UG-32 Formed Heads and Sections,

Pressure on the Concave Side
Example: Vessel subject to internal pressure

Convex Head

Concave Head

UW-3 Welded Joint Category

The term Category as used herein defines the
location of a joint in a vessel, but not the type of
joint.
Categories are assigned based on the type and degree of
stresses imposed at various locations within a vessel.
Joints included in each category are designated as A, B,
C or D.

UW-3 Welded Joint Category

UW-3 Welded Joint Category

(a) Category A
Longitudinal joints within the main shell, communicating
chambers (eg. sumps), transitions in diameter, or nozzles,
any joint in a sphere, formed or flat head or side plates in
flat sided vessels,
circumferential welded joints connecting hemispherical
heads to shells, nozzles, or to communicating chambers.
(b) Category B
Circumferential welded joints within the main shell,
communicating chambers or transitions in diameter,
circumferential welded joints connecting formed heads
other than hemispherical to main shells, transitions in
diameter, to nozzles, or to communicating chambers.

UW-3 Welded Joint Category

Head attachment

Category A joint

examples

any joint in a sphere

hemi head to shell

Category B joint

Cylindrical
straight flange
(skirt)

formed head other than hemi

UW-3 Welded Joint Category

(c) Category C

Welded joints connecting flanges, Van Stone laps,

tubesheets, or flat heads to:
main shells, to formed heads,
to transitions in diameter, to nozzles or to communicating
chambers,
Any welded joint connecting one side plate to another side
plate of a flat sided vessel.
(d) Category D
Welded joints connecting communicating chambers or
nozzles to: main shells, spheres, transitions in diameter, to heads,
flat sided vessels, and nozzles to communicating chambers

Table UW-12, Joint Types

8 Joint types are identified.
Type 1 has the highest efficient, type 6 has the lowest
efficient. Types 7 and 8 have no assigned efficiency.
Types 1 through 3 are butt joints, types 4 through 6 are
lap joints. Type 7 is a corner joint and 8 is an angle
joint.
Only type 1 and 2 butt joints may be radiographed in
order to improve efficiency.

Table UW-12, Joint Types

Examples: Type 1, Butt welded, both sides must be visible

Examples: Type 2, butt welded with backing

Fig. UW-13.1 sketch (k)

"joggle joint"

backing left in place

Table UW-12, Joint Types

Examples: Type 3, single welded butt welded without
backing

not viewed internally -eg. small diameter pipe or assemblies with

space or visibility restrictions

Examples: Type 4, double full fillet lap joint

Table UW-12, Joint Types

Examples: Type 5, single full fillet lap joints with plug welds

Plug Weld

Examples: Type 6,single full fillet lap joint without plug welds

UW-12 Joint Efficiencies

Table UW-12 gives the joint efficiencies "E" to be used in the
formulas of this Division for joints completed by an gas or arc
welding process.
Except as required by UW-11(a)(5), a joint efficiency depends
only on the type of joint and the degree of examination of the
joint and doesn't depend on the degree of examination of any
other joint.
The user or his designated agent [U-2(a)] shall establish the
type of joint and the degree of examination when the rules of
this Division do not mandate specific requirements.

UW-12 Joint Efficiencies

(a) full radiography
(b) spot radiography
(c) no radiograph
(d) seamless pressure vessel sections and heads
(e) welded pipe or tubing
(f) welds completed by pressure welding processes

UW-12 Joint Efficiencies

UW-12(b) Spot radiography
Per column (b) of Table UW-12
Performed per UW-52* [see UW-11(b)]

* Minimum one film (at least 6 inches long) per welder for
each 50 foot increment of deposited weld metal.

UW-12(c) No Radiography
Per column (c) of Table UW-12

UW-12 Joint Efficiencies

UW-12(f) Pressure Welding Processes
A value of E not greater than 0.80 for welds completed by
any of the pressure welding processes listed in UW-27(a).

UW-12( a) Full Radiography

Use the efficiency specified in column (a) of Table UW12, except when the requirements of UW-11(a)(5) are
not met, a value not greater than that listed in column
(b) of Table UW-12 shall be used.

UW-12 Joint Efficiencies

UW-11(a)(5) applies to all Category A or D butt welds in
vessel sections and heads designed per UW-12(a), in which
case:
(a) Category A and B welds connecting vessel sections or
heads shall be Type 1 or 2 of Table
(b) Category B or C butt welds which intersect category A
butt welds in vessel sections or heads, or connect
seamless vessel sections or heads shall as a minimum,
meet the requirements for spot radiography per UW 2.
UW-52(b)(4) Radiographs required at specific locations to
satisfy the rules of other paragraphs, such as UW-9(d), UW11(a)(5)(b). and UW-14(b), shall not be used to satisfy the
rules for spot radiography.

UW-12 Joint Efficiencies

UW-12(a) Full Radiography
Use column (a) of Table UW-12, except when UW-11(a)(5)
is not met, use column (b) of Table UW-12.

UW 12(d) Seamless Vessel Sections and Heads

are considered equivalent to welded parts of the same
geometry, in which and all Category A welds are type 1.
Formed head
other than hemi

Hemi head

UW-12 Joint Efficiencies

UW-12(d) con't... For calculations involving circumferential
stress in vessel sections or for the thickness of seamless
heads, E = 1.0 when the spot radiography requirements of
UW 11(a) (5)(b) are met, or 0.85 when they are not met.

Formed head
other than hemi

Hemi head
UW-11(a)(5)(b) spot RT performed, E= 1.0
UW-11(a)(5)(b) spot RT not met, E= 0.85

UW-12 Joint Efficiencies

UW-12(e) Welded pipe or tubing* shall be treated in the same
manner as seamless, but with the allowable tensile stress
taken from the welded product values of the stress tables, and
the requirements of UW-12(d) applied.
* Manufactured in accordance with a material specification
permitted by this Division, not fabricated by the vessel
manufacturer as a vessel part. (eg. ERW pipe)
Welded, but treated
like seamless
[UW-12(d)]

UW-11(a)(5)(b) spot RT performed, E= 1.0

UW-11(a)(5)(b) spot RT not met, E= 0.85

UG-116(e) Required Marking

When a vessel has been radiographed in
accordance with UW-11, marking shall be applied
under the Code symbol
as follows:
RT-1
RT-2
RT-3
RT-4

UG-116(e) Required Marking

RT-l, Full radiography of all pressure retaining butt welded
joints, except Category B & C butt welds in nozzles and
communicating chambers that neither exceed IMPS 10 (DN
250) nor 1-1/8 in. (29mm).
Hemi head

RT-2, when the complete vessel satisfies the requirements of

UW ll(a)(5) and when spot RT rules of UW 11(a)(5)(b) have
been applied.
Formed head,
Other than Hemi

Hemi head

UG-116(e) Required Marking

RT-3, when the complete
radiography rules of UW-ll(b).
Formed head,
Other than
Hemi

vessel

satisfies

the

spot

Hemi head

RT-4, when only part of the complete vessel has satisfied

the radiographic requirements of UW-ll(a) or where none
of the markings RT-1, RT-2, or RT 3 are applicable
Formed head,
Other than
Hemi

Hemi head