Below is a listing of the new features in this years version. Many of the new features and improvements come directly from your comments. There have also been a number of new features that have been included in builds to the 2005 version during the last year. Those features are not discussed below, but you can find them at this link.

• ASME VIII Division 1, 2, and Section II Part D updates. There were literally hundreds of changes to material properties. For this years version, the yield stress database was regenerated and several new tables of information have been added. Approximately 100 new yield stress vs. temperature listings have been added to this database.
  
  Other Code changes include those made to Appendix 1-4(f), Appendix 2 (rigidity is now mandatory), Appendix 26 (Expansion Joint Design)
  
  
• PVElite has added calculations per UG-39. There are now ligament checks for nozzles that are close together and checks for how close the nozzles are from the edge of the flat head.
  
  
• For calculations performed in metric units there is now a new option to write the results using a consistent set of metric units. This is essentially MPa, Newtons, and N · mm. This makes reviewing the output easier while maintaining the convenience of entering the data in your selected set of metric units.
  
  
• In the tubesheet input, there is now an option to enter Appendix 26 thin bellows expansion joint data. After typing in the data, the results can be reviewed immediately using the calculator button. When the formal analysis is made, PVElite will compute the joint movement and determine the acceptability of the joint using the Code rules.
  
  
• ASME Code Case 2286 has been added as an option to PVElite. These are alternate rules for determining allowable external pressure and allowable compressive stresses for combinations of stress due to weight, bending moment and external pressure as well as shear. Stiffening ring calculations on cylinders are also included as well as cone/shell ring calculations. A complete run down of this new feature can be found in the help screen for Code Case 2286.
  
  
• Nozzles in Flat heads are now addressed for the PD:5500 and EN-13445 Codes. The methodology is to compute the required thickness of the head based on the proximity of the nozzles to the edge and their spacing.
  
  
• A new autosave feature has been added this version. It allows you to specify a time period in between saves. These saves can be silent if desired or you can be prompted each time. This feature is in the tools->configuration menu Set Default Values tab.
  
  
• A new nozzle pressure design option has been added. This option computes the MAWP of the vessel and adds the static pressure to the nozzle location. The other MAWP options compute the static head to the bottom of the governing element or to the element where the nozzle is located. This option is valid for both horizontal and vertical geometries.
  
  
• The List feature has been updated in this verison. Users can now switch between the ANSI Metric and ANSI Imperial Nozzle tables just by changing the option in the pull down menu. Also in the list dialog, full penetration pad welds and nozzle welds can be specified for all nozzles. This option is handy when the vessel thickness is changed after the nozzles are modelled.
  
  
• There is now an alternate method for checking wide flange, channel type, and T shaped legs. This method breaks down the load due to wind or seismic into its component directions and resolves the stresses around each axis using the Unity Check approach. While the default method has worked quite well over the years, this method provides an alternative. Please note that the results between the two methods may be quite different.
  
  
• For horizontal vessels on saddle supports, PVElite now examines the rings over each saddle independently and uses the appropriate ring properties when computing the stresses in the ring and the shell at the stiffener. Previously, the program assumed symmetry with regard to the rings.
  
  
• When hydrotesting large horizontal vessels, it is necessary to use short term intermediate (crib) supports to keep saddle stresses within computed allowables in some cases. The program now gathers the number of intermediate supports and uses this information to compute a reduced saddle load Q for the hydrotest case.
  
  
• The liquid dialog has a new button that clarifies the entry of liquid from the datum line. Once the height from the datum line is entered, press the "Fill Elements Now" button to add the liquid to the vessel.
  
  
• The units files have been updated. The conversion constants have remained the same, but the text labels for the units have been revised for consistency with international standards. Also, the program that modifies the units (Makeunit.exe) has been updated as well.
  
  
• In the material database selection dialogs, a "Search Again" feature has been added that allows repeat searching for the entered material.
  
  
• The stiffening ring dialog has a new entry for the height of the section ring. This value is needed when computing the stress at the tip of the ring for ASME STS calculations. This distance is also used for the ring stress calculations in the Zick Analysis.
  
  
• In the seismic code selection, the IBC 2003 Seismic design code has been added.
  
  
• Some extra logic has been added that updates the ring diameters for bar type rings. When the vessel diameter or thickness is changed, the ring diameters will automatically be changed as well. This is also accounted for when using the share and update element commands.
  
  
• The "Nozzle Schedule" report has been updated to include nozzle cut length calculations. Having this data available will eliminate the time that designers spend computing these values on CAD systems.
  
  
• Platforms can now be added on horizontal vessels in the same manner as vertical vessels. These platforms will rectangular in shape.
  
  
• For Angle type stiffening rings, the input echo now displays the text "Hard Way" or "Easy Way" after the stiffening ring name to denote how the ring is attached to the vessel. This will only work if the ring was selected from the supplied database of shapes.
  
  
• Flange pressure ratings for several DIN specifications have been added.

• ASME VIII Division 1, 2, and Section II Part D updates. There were literally hundreds of changes to material properties. For this years version, the yield stress database was regenerated and several new tables of information have been added. Approximately 100 new yield stress vs. temperature listings have been added to this database. 2 new external pressures charts were also added.
  
  Other Code changes include those made to Appendix 1-4(f), Appendix 2 (rigidity is now mandatory), Appendix 26 (Expansion Joint Design)
  
  
• New Wind codes have been made available for the Support Lug and Legs. The codes that were added are ASCE 7-2002/95/98 and UBC-1997.
  
  
• New Wind codes have been added in the horizontal vessel module. The codes that were added are ASCE 7-2002/95/98 and UBC-1997.
  
  
• The option of entering the loads in Sustained, Expansion and Occasional categories using the WRC-107 convention system is available now. Once, the loads are categorized they can be combined per ASME Sec. VIII Div. 2 rules and compared with the allowables.
  
  The previous versions would only allow categorization of the loads when they were entered in the global convention system. Now, both WRC-107 and global convention can be used. Moreover, the loads can be converted from one convention to another with a flip of a button from the input screen. You can also run the Nozzle Pro interface by entering loads in WRC-107 convention for the 90 degree nozzles. 
  
  
• A new autosave feature has been added this version. It allows you to specify a time period in between saves. These saves can be silent if desired or you can be prompted each time. This feature is in the tools->configuration menu Miscellaneous tab.
  
  
• The variable names used in the input echo and output of the flange and floating head modules were made consistent with the ASME code's nomenclature.
  
  
• The recommendation for the minimum gasket width was added in floating head calculations.