What are your go-to books for pressure vessels? Aside from the codes and standards relevant to your jurisdiction, which texts have you put skin in the game? Please feel free to list in the comments, as it would be valuable to all to know what others have in their collection.
I started my career designing vessels in 2001 and continue to this day revisiting either the design or fabrication of various vessels on the projects I’ve been a part of. Since my primary roles haven’t been solely vessels, I’ve only acquired a small collection of physical prints. As most engineering organisations give their members access to electronic resources, I still like to have a few key texts that I can include notes and can refer to quickly within arms reach.
Pressure Vessel Text on My Bookshelf
The following are the books that I splashed out on and are not in any particular order. Disclaimer: Links are affiliated, but they are all easily found via a doctor Google or Amazon search.
I have noted where these books are available as part of the organisation’s member benefits. They include ASME – American Society of Mechanical Engineers; AIChE – American Institute of Chemical Engineers; EA – Engineers Australia; SLQ – State Library of Queensland.
Cover Title Author ASME AIChE EA SLQ
Pressure Vessel Design Handbook 2nd Edition Henry H. Bednar No No No YES - hard copy 1981
Practical Guide to Pressure Vessel Manufacturing 2002 Sunil Pullarcot No No YES No
Pressure Vessels Field Manual: Common Operating Problems and Practical Solutions 2013 Maurice Stewart and Oran T. Lewis No No No No
Pressure Vessel Design Manual 3rd Edition [4th Edition] Dennis R. Moss No YES No YES
Applying the ASME Codes Plant Piping & Pressure Vessels 2007 James A. Wingate No No No No
Pressure Vessel Books on My Wishlist
I have referred to these books throughout the years and may buy if I find myself going back to them.
| Cover | Title | Author | ASME | AIChE | EA | SLQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code 4th Edition | K. R. Rao | No | No | No | No |
 | Pressure Vessels: Design and Practice 1st Edition | Somnath Chattopadhyay | No | No | YES | No |
 | Pressure Vessels : ASME Code Simplified 8th Edition | J. Phillip Ellenberger | YES | No | No | No |
 | Fitness-for-Service Evaluations for Piping and Pressure Vessels: ASME Code Simplified 1st Edition | George Antaki | No | No | No | No |
Pressure Vessel Text Content for Info
Included below are the main sections of the books noted in this post as a reference of the topics covered by each.
Pressure Vessel Design Handbook 2nd Edition by Henry H. Bednar
Contents
Preface To First Edition
Preface To Second Edition
1. Design Loads
2. Stress Categories And Design Limit Stresses
3. Membrane Stress Analysis Of Vessel Shell Components
4. Design Of Tall Cylindrical Self-Supporting Process Columns
5. Supports For Short Vertical Vessels
6. Design Of Saddle Supports For Large Horizontal Cylindrical Pressure Vessels
7. Local Stresses In Shells Due To Loads On Attachments
8. Discontinuity Stresses
9. Thermal Stresses
10. Weld Design
11. Selection Of Construction Materials
12. Numerical Methods For Stress Analysis Of Axisymmetric Shells
Practical Guide to Pressure Vessel Manufacturing 2002 by Sunil Pullarcot
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Organization
Chapter 3. Manufacture of Components
Chapter 4. Manufacture of Vessel
Chapter 5. Nondestructive Testing
Chapter 6. Pad Air and Preliminary Hydrostatic Testing
Chapter 7. Postweld Heat Treatment
Chapter 8. Hydrostatic Testing
Chapter 9. Post Hydrostatic Test Cleaning
Chapter 10. Documentation
Chapter 11. Radiographic Testing Procedure for Pressure Vessels
Chapter 12. Ultrasonic Testing for Pressure Vessels
Chapter 13. Magnetic Particle Testing for Pressure Vessels
Chapter 14. Liquid Penetrant Testing for Pressure Vessels
Chapter 15. Furnace Postweld Heat Treatment for Pressure Vessels
Chapter 16. Hydrostatic Testing of Pressure Vessels
Chapter 17. Quality Assurance and Control in Welding
Chapter 18. Quality Plan
Chapter 19. Inspection and Test Plan
Chapter 20. Standard Tolerances for Pressure Vessels
Chapter 21. ASME Exhibits
Pressure Vessels Field Manual: Common Operating Problems and Practical Solutions 2013 by Maurice Stewart and Oran T. Lewis
1. History and Organization of Codes
2. Materials of Construction
3. Materials Selection for Pressure Vessels
4. Mechanical Design of Pressure Vessels
5. Fabrication, Welding, and In-Shop Inspection
6. In-Service Inspection by Nondestructive Examination (NDE)
7. Repair, Alteration, and Re-rating
Pressure Vessel Design Manual, Third Edition 3rd Edition by Dennis R. Moss
1. Stresses in Pressure Vessels
2. General Design
3. Design of Vessel Supports
4. Special Designs
5. Local Loads
6. Related Equipment
7. Transportation and Erection of Pressure Vessels
Appendices
Applying the ASME Codes Plant Piping & Pressure Vessels 2007 by James A. Wingate
Chapter 1 ASME B31.3 Process Piping Stress Analysis Requirements
Chapter 2 Bellows-Type Pipe Expansion Joints: Pressure Thrust and Other Pitfalls
Chapter 3 Supports Determine Loads on Piping, Connecting Equipment, the Level of Pipe Stress, and Load Reactions on Supporting Structure
Chapter 4 Spring Constants of Elastic Shapes in Contact
Chapter 5 Pipe Flange Leakage and Stress
Chapter 6 Thermal Restraint Stress
Chapter 7 The Types and Amounts of Mechanical Stresses to Be Expected in Common Utility Piping Systems
Chapter 8 Pressure (Hydro-) Tests
Chapter 9 Issues and Codes Concerning Piping and Vessel Overpressure Protection and Safety
Chapter 10 Jacketed Piping Issues
Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code 4th Edition by K. R. Rao
Part 1: Power Boilers – Sections I & VII of B&PV Code
Part 2: Section II of B&PV Code
Part 3: Section III – Rules For Construction of Nuclear Power Plant Components
Part 4: Heating Boilers – Section IV & VI of B&PV Code
Part 5: Section V of B&PV Code
Part 6: Section VIII – Rules For Construction of Pressure Vessels
Part 7: Section IX of B&PV Code – Welding and Brazing Qualifications
Part 8: Section X of B&PV Code
Part 9: Section XI of B&PV Code – Rules For Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components
Part 10: Section XII of B&PV Code
Part 11: ASME B31 Codes
Pressure Vessels: Design and Practice 1st Edition by Somnath Chattopadhyay
Chapter 1. Overview of pressure vessels
Chapter 2. Pressure vessel design philosophy
Chapter 3. Structural design criteria
Chapter 4. Stress categories and stress limits
Chapter 5. Design of cylindrical shells
Chapter 6. Design of heads and covers
Chapter 7. Design of nozzles and openings
Chapter 8. Fatigue assessment of pressure vessels
Chapter 9. Bolted flange connections
Chapter 10. Design of vessel supports
Chapter 11. Simplified inelastic methods in pressure vessel design
Chapter 12. Case studies
Appendix A. Review of solid mechanics
Appendix B. Review of fatigue and fracture mechanics
Appendix C. Limit analysis
Pressure Vessels : ASME Code Simplified 8th Edition by J. Phillip Ellenberger
A. Preface
1. Origin
2. Descriptive Guide to the ASME Code Section VIII
3. Design for Safety
4. Guide to Quality Control Systems for ASME Code Vessels
5. Inspection and Quality Control of ASME Code Vessels
6. Welding
7. Nondestructive Examination
8. ASME Code Section VIII
9. Power Boilers: Guide to the ASME Code Section I
10. Nuclear Vessels and Required Quality Assurance Systems
11. Department of Transportation Requirements for Cargo Tanks
F. ISO 9000 Quality Assurance Requirements
A. Cylinder Volume Tables and Diagrams
B. Circumferences of Cylinders
C. Decimal Equivalents and Theoretical Weights of Steel Plates
D. Pipe Wall Thicknesses
E. Dry Saturated Steam Temperatures
F. Metric (SI) Units; English and Metric Conversions
G. Bibliography
H. About the Author
Fitness-for-Service Evaluations for Piping and Pressure Vessels: ASME Code Simplified 1st Edition by George Antaki
Chapter 1: Principles
Chapter 2: Materials
Chapter 3: Design
Chapter 4: Fabrication
Chapter 5: Degradation
Chapter 6: Inspection
Chapter 7: Thinning
Chapter 8: Geometric Defects
Chapter 9: Cracks
Chapter 10: Creep Damage
Chapter 11: Overload
Chapter 12: Failure Analysis
Chapter 13: Repairs
Appendix: WRC Bulletins
Wrap up
This post was a quick one to show some excellent resource material unique to pressure vessels. I included where some of the books are accessible through my associated organisation’s subscription packages.
Again, please share in the comments below any gems that you have discovered in your journeys.