The articles contained within the following pages are comprised of works from a representative sector of papers originated within the Design and Analysis Committee of the ASME Pressure Vessels and Piping Division. To say that these works are reflective of the constituency of the D&A Committee is not only true, but can be substantiated by the diversity represented by the international affiliations of each of the authors, the specific topics addressed by these authors, and the clear division between industry and academia. Furthermore, the diversity parameters previously identified are historically what has made the PVP Division, and in particular, the Design and Analysis Committee, a strong base and significant contributor to the knowledge pool in the pressure vessels and piping disciplines throughout the world. Design and analysis is where the fruits of our livelihood start for all the readers of this Journal.
A quick glance through the table of contents to the left of this page will lead the reader immediately to the topic(s) of interest. Furthermore, the readers of this special issue are encouraged to revisit the table of contents for a second glance to then pick additional articles outside of their traditional interests to read in order to expand their exposure, if not their understanding, of the multitude of design and analysis topics included herein. Only after the reader has reviewed, and hopefully read, the full collection of works by the contributing authors, can an understanding be gained of the breadth of subject material covered by the Design and Analysis Committee members. Some of the topics included in this special issue are fluid shock due to water hammer, residual stresses in expanded heat exchanger tubes, deformation in slip blinds under pressure, buckling, stress classification and shakedown theory, thermal shock evaluations, and high temperature heat exchanger analysis. All of these subjects are indeed, reflective of the Design and Analysis Committee’s charge to address significant issues surrounding the pressure vessel and piping industry.
The effort that goes into putting just a single JPVT issue together is transparent to the reader of the Journal. The obvious efforts of the authors are easily recognized by the published words contained in the following pages. The behind-the-scenes efforts of so many additional people are not so easily recognizable. Some of these people include the many peer reviewers (several per paper); the original session developers from the PVPD Conferences, where a number of the included papers originated; the staff of ASME Publications; and, of course, the Editor of the ASME JPVT, Dr. G. E. O. Widera, and his quite capable assistant, Ms. Jessica Bulgrin. Both of these folks deserve thanks for guiding this Associate Editor through the process of assembling a special issue to highlight some of the works of the Design and Analysis Committee.
On a more personal note, thanks go to all of the authors for their fine work, most of whom I have had the pleasure of working with during my tenure as the Chairman of the Design and Analysis Committee and who have become part of my PVPD family. Finally, I need to thank the former Editor and incoming President of ASME, my dear friend Dr. Sam Zamrik for allowing me the opportunity to be an Associate Editor and who along with my mentor on this issue, Dr. Otto Widera, have promoted special issues of the JPVT for more years than any of us would like to count. Speaking for everyone involved in the assembly, review, and publication of this issue, I hope you enjoy the articles we have selected for you.
