TABLE OF CONTENTS The direct route in design by analysis (DBA-DR) is a modern, advanced approach to check the admissibility of pressure vessel designs. This approach is included, as a normative annex, in the Harmonized Standard EN 13445, and, therefore, conformity of a design to the requirements of this approach as specified in the standard implies presumption of conformity to the relevant essential safety requirements (ESR) of Annex I of the pressure equipment directive (PED) [1].
This approach may be used
as an alternative to the usual design by formulae (DBF) route,
as a complement to the DBF route, for
cases not covered by this DBF route,
cases involving superposition of actions, e.g. wind, snow, earthquake, piping forces, forces imposed by attached equipment,
cases where DBA is explicitly required, e.g. by authorities in major hazard, or environmentally sensitive situations, and
cases where manufacturing tolerances specified in the standard are exceeded.
As an alternative to the DBF route, DBA-DR may be used even in cases within the scope of the DBF route and within the scope of the formulae specified there. As a complement to the DBF route, DBA-DR may be used in all cases outside the scope of DBF formulae, and in cases not covered in the DBF approach. It may be used in cases of superposition of various actions, where the DBF route is not specific enough or leads to overly conservative results. The DBA-DR approach gives much insight into...
