Mr.Menon,

Few days back I replied to an identical question from Mr. Nikhil Dengwekar which you can find in the discussion forum.

First, there is nothing known as two times max. shear intensity.Shear intensity itself is defined as two times max. shear which again is equal to (max.-min. principal stress)/2, hence shear intensity is (max-min.)principal stresses.

Next, neither WRC 107 nor 297 tells us how to add stresses of different categories . They only give you series of non dimensional curves based on which you arrive at membrane and bending stresses for different types of loading.

Your addition of stresses will be strictly based on the guideline given in ASME Sec VIII Div 2 appendix 4.Here you will not only get the definition of different terminologies pertaining to stress categories , but also the way you have to combine them and the allowable against which such combinations will be checked.

You cannot have any self imposed method of ckecking as you have suggested.Do not take any simplistic path as it violates the code requirements.

To take the story further go through the paper titled "Criteria of the ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Code for Design by Analysis in Sections III and VIII Division 2"published by ASME in 1969.This paper gives the background theory for arriving at the recommendations given in DIV 2 APPENDIX 4.

Regards

A.BHATTACHARYA

Stress Analyst

Bechtel Corporation