Pipe Stress

16/12/2015
PipeStressAnalysisSoftwareCAEPIPE&PipingStressTutorial
PipeStressAnalysisSoftwareCAEPIPE&PipingStress
Tutorial
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BasicPipeStressAnalysisTutorial
Tutorial:TableofContents
TechnicalArticle:PipeStressAnalysis:BasicConcepts
TechnicalArticle:PreliminaryPipeStressAnalysisProcedure
Example1:UsingExpansionLoops
Example2:SplittingThermalGrowth
Example3:AxialRestraintstoDirectThermalGrowth
Example4:LocatingSupportsForDeadweightAnalysis
Example5:MakingLayoutChangestoReduceThermalStresses
PipeStressAnalysis:BasicConcepts
Introduction
It is common practice worldwide that piping designers/layout personnel route pipes with consideration
given mainly to space constraints, process and flow constraints (such as pressure drop) and other
requirements arising from constructability, operability and reparability. Unfortunately, often pipe stress
requirements are not sufficiently considered while routing and supporting piping systems, especially in
providingadequateflexibilitytoabsorbexpansion/contractionofpipesduetothermalloads.So,when"as
designed"pipingsystemsaregiventopipestressengineersforanalysis,theysoonrealizethatthelayout
is"stiff"andsuggestroutingchangestomakethelayoutmoreflexible.Thepipingdesigners,inturn,make
routingchangesandsendtherevisedlayouttothepipestressengineerstocheckcomplianceagain.
Such"backandforth"designiterationsbetweenlayoutandstressdepartmentscontinueuntilasuitable
layoutandsupportschemeisarrivedat,resultinginsignificantincreaseinprojectexecutiontime,which,in
turn,increasesprojectcosts.
This delay in project execution is further aggravated in recent years as operating pressures and
temperatures are increased in operating plants to increase plant output increased operating pressures
increase pipe wall thickness, which, in turn, increase piping stiffness further increased operating
http://www.sstusa.com/pipestressanalysistutorial.php#example1
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temperatures,appliedonsuch"stiffer"systems,increasepipethermalstressesandsupportloads.So,itis
allthemoreimportanttomakethepipinglayoutflexibleatthetimeofroutingbypipingdesigners.
The "Design by Color" product "checkSTRESS" from SST (different from CAEPIPE) for AutoCAD,
CATIA, Autoplant, PDMS, Cadmatic, etc. can be used to substantially reduce the number of design
iterationsbetweenthepipinglayoutandstressdepartments,resultinginhugetimesavingsduringdesign.
BasicPipeStressConceptsforPipingDesigners
Piping systems experience different loadings, categorized into three basic loading types, namely
Sustained,ThermalandOccasionalloads.
SustainedLoad:
It mainly consists of internal pressure and deadweight. Deadweight is from weight of pipes, fittings,
componentssuchasvalves,operatingfluid,testfluid,insulation,cladding,liningetc.
Internal design/operating pressure develops uniform circumferential stresses in the pipe wall, based on
whichpipewallthicknessisdeterminedduringtheprocess/P&IDstageofplantdesignsuchthat"failureby
rupture" is avoided. In addition, internal pressure develops axial stresses in the pipe wall. These axial
pressurestressesvaryonlywithpressure,pipediameterandwallthickness,allthreeofwhicharepreset
at the P&ID stage and hence these axial pressure stresses cannot be reduced by changing the piping
layoutorthesupportscheme.
On the other hand, deadweight causes the pipe to bend (generally downward) between supports and
nozzles,producingaxialstressesinthepipewall(alsocalled"bendingstresses")thesebendingstresses
linearly vary across the pipe crosssection, being tensile at either the top or bottom surface and
compressiveattheothersurface.Ifthepipingsystemisnotsupportedintheverticaldirection(i.e.,inthe
gravity direction) excepting at equipment nozzles, bending of the pipe due to deadweight may develop
excessive stresses in the pipe and impose large loads on equipment nozzles, thereby increasing the
susceptibilityto"failurebycollapse".
Various international piping codes impose limits, also called "allowable stresses for sustained loads", on
theseaxialstressesgeneratedbydeadweightandpressureinordertoavoid"failurebycollapse".
For the calculated axial stresses to be below such allowable stresses for sustained loads, it may be
necessarytosupportthepipingsystemvertically.Typicalverticalsupportstocarrydeadweightare:
a. Restingsteelsupports,
b. Rodhangers,
c. Variablespringhangers,and
d. Constantsupporthangers.
Bothrodhangersandrestingsteelsupportsfullyrestraindownwardpipemovementbutpermitpipetolift
upatsuchsupports.Ifpipeliftsupatanyoftherodhangers/restingsupportsduringoperatingcondition,
thenthatsupportdoesnotcarryanypipeweightandhencewillnotserveitspurpose.
TwoexamplesarepresentedinthisTutorialtoillustratehowpipingcanbesupportedbyspringhangers
andrestingsteelsupportstocomplywiththecoderequirementsforsustainedloads.
ThermalLoad(alsoreferredasExpansionLoad):
Itreferstothe"cyclic"thermalexpansion/contractionofpipingasthesystemgoesfromonethermalstate
to another thermal state (for example, from "shutdown" to "normal operations" and then back to "shut
down").Ifthepipingsystemisnotrestrainedinthethermalgrowth/contractiondirections(forexample,in
theaxialdirectionofastraightpipe),thenforsuchcyclicthermalload,thepipeexpands/contractsfreely
inthiscase,nointernalforces,momentsandresultingstressesandstrainsaregeneratedinthepiping.
On the other hand, if the pipe is "restrained" in the directions it wants to thermally deform (such as at
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equipment nozzles and pipe supports), such constraint on free thermal deformation generates cyclic
thermalstressesandstrainsthroughoutthesystemasthesystemgoesfromonethermalstatetoanother.
When such calculated thermal stress ranges exceed the "allowable thermal stress range" specified by
various international piping codes, then the system is susceptible to "failure by fatigue". So, in order to
avoid"fatiguefailure"duetocyclicthermalloads,thepipingsystemshouldbemadeflexible(andnotstiff).
Thisisnormallyaccomplishedasfollows:
a. Introducebends/elbowsinthelayout,asbends/elbows"ovalize"whenbentbyendmoments,which
increasespipingflexibility.
b. Introduceasmuch"offsets"aspossiblebetweenequipmentnozzles(whicharenormallymodeledas
anchorsinpipestressanalysis).
Forexample,iftwoequipmentnozzles(whicharetobeconnectedbyapipeline)areinline,thenthe
straightpipeconnectingthesenozzlesis"verystiff".Ontheotherhand,ifthetwoequipmentare
locatedwithan"offset",thentheirnozzleswillhavetobeconnectedbyan"Lshaped"pipelinewhich
includesabend/elbowsuch"Lshaped"pipelineismuchmoreflexiblethanthestraightpipeline
mentionedabove.
c. Introduceexpansionloops(witheachloopconsistingoffourbends/elbows)toabsorbthermal
growth/contraction.
d. Lastly,introduceexpansionjointssuchasbellows,slipjointsetc.,ifwarranted.
Inadditiontogeneratingthermalstressrangesinthepipingsystem,cyclicthermalloadsimposeloads
onstaticandrotatingequipmentnozzles.Byfollowingoneormoreofthestepsfrom(a)to(d)above
andsteps(e)and(f)listedbelow,suchnozzleloadscanbereduced.
e. Introduce"axialrestraints"(whichrestrainpipeinitsaxialdirection)atappropriatelocationssuchthat
thermalgrowth/contractionisdirectedawayfromequipmentnozzles,especiallycriticalones.
f. Introduce"intermediateanchors"(whichrestrainpipemovementinthethreetranslationalandthree
rotationaldirections)atappropriatelocationssuchthatthermaldeformationisabsorbedbyregions
(suchasexpansionloops)awayfromequipmentnozzles.
A few example layouts are presented below to illustrate how loops/offsets, axial restraints and
intermediateanchorsareusedtoreducethermalstressesinpiping(andresultingnozzleloads).
OccasionalLoad:
This type of load is imposed on piping by occasional events such as earthquake, wind etc. To protect
piping from wind (which normally blows in horizontal plane), it is normal practice to attach "lateral
supports"topipingsystems.Duringanearthquake,theearthmayalsomovevertically.Toprotectpiping
against both horizontal and vertical movement during earthquake, some of the resting supports may be
madeas"integral2wayverticalandlateralrestraints".
Fortunately, to carry sustained loads, normally vertical supports (as those listed under the Section titled
"Sustained Load" above) are required. To withstand static seismic g loads, "integral 2way vertical and
lateral restraints" are required. Generally, some of the vertical weight supports can be modified as
"integral 2way vertical and lateral restraints". On the other hand, for thermal loads, zero supports give
zerostresses.So,thermalstressesandequipmentnozzleloadswillnormallydecreaseasthenumberof
supports goes down. Axial restraints and intermediate anchors are recommended only to direct thermal
growthawayfromequipmentnozzles.
PipeStressAnalysis:Procedure
Step1:GeneratingCAEPIPEmodel
Model the piping system in CAEPIPE (either directly inside CAEPIPE, or by using one of SSTs data
translatorstoimportthepipingmodel)andfollowthestepsshownintheCAEPIPETutorialtolearnthe
basicsofoperatingCAEPIPEtocreateandanalyzeamodelandreviewitsresults.Onceallthedataisin,
Analyze.Now,reviewResults.
Step2:StudyingThermalStressresultsfortheInitialLayout
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Review first stress contour plot for thermal stresses. The plot is colorcoded such that "blue" region
denotesareaswiththeleaststressratios(wherestressratioequalstoactualcomputedstressdividedby
allowablethermalstress),"green"regionwithhigherstressratios,"yellow"regionwithevenhigherstress
ratios,and"red"regionwiththehigheststressratios.Intermediateareasbetweenthesedistinctcolorswill
beof"bluishgreen","greenishyellow"and"orange"colors.
Since thermal stresses generated are directly dependent on how "flexible" the layout is, it may be
necessarytomakethelayoutas"flexible"aspossible(byincludingbends,offsets,loopsetc.)toreduce
thermalstresses.So,thegoalistoarriveata"flexible"layoutforwhichthermalstressratiosremainwithin
"blue" to "yellow" range and not get into "orange" and "red" zones. For a more "flexible" layout, even
"yellow"zonemaybeavoided.
Step3:FinalizingLayouttomeetThermalStresscriteria
Incasethermalstressratiosexceed"yellow"zone(i.e.,"orange"and"red"zonesappearinoneormore
areasofthepipingsystem),itisimportanttostudythedeformedshapefor"thermal"loadcaseinorderto
understand how the piping deforms for "pure thermal" load (where only temperature change is
considered).Bystudyingsuchdeformedshape,itispossibletoarriveatalayoutwithappropriatebends,
offsetsandloopsand/orwithappropriatelylocatedaxialrestraints/intermediateanchorssuchthatthermal
stress ratios do not exceed "yellow" zone. This process may require several iterations on layout and/or
locationsforaxialrestraints/intermediateanchors.
Step4:StudyingResultsforSustainedLoad
After finalizing piping layout under Steps 2 and 3 for thermal loading, the next task is to support the
system vertically to carry its own deadweight under operating condition. In this connection, first review
stress contour plot shown in color codes from "blue" to "red" (as in Step 2 above) for sustained stress
ratios generated by deadweight and pressure for the system without any vertical supports (excepting
thoseprovidedbyequipmentnozzlesandintermediateanchorsintroducedinStep3above).
Thegoalistoarriveataverticalsupportschemeconsistingof(a)restingsteelsupports,(b)rodhangers,
(c)variablespringhangersand(d)constantsupporthangers,atappropriatelocations(wheresuchpipe
supportscanbeattachedtoadjacentconcrete/steelstructures,platformsetc.)sothatstresscontourplot
forsustainedstressratiosavoids"orange"and"red"zonesandremainswithin"bluetoyellow"range.
Step5:FinalizingVerticalSupportstocarrySustainedLoad
In case sustained stresses exceed "yellow" zone in one or more areas of the piping system, study the
deformed shape provided by CAEPIPE for sustained load case in order to understand how the piping
respondstoitsowndeadweight.Next,identifypipelocationswherethepipecanbeverticallysupportedby
thesupporttypeslistedunderStep4above.Basedonthisinput,verticallysupportthepipingsuchthat
sustainedstressesdonotexceed"yellow"zone.Thisstepmayrequireanumberofanalysisiterationswith
severaldifferentlocationsforweightsupports.
Incaserestingsteelsupportsareselectedtoprovideverticalsupportforpipingundersustainedload,itis
tobemadesurethatpipingcontinuestorestonsuchsteelsupportsevenduringoperatingcondition(=
weight + pressure + thermal) and does not lift off from these supports. If pipe lifts up at any of these
restingsupportsduringoperatingcondition,thenthatsupportdoesnotcarryanypipeweightandhence
willnotserveitspurpose.Similarly,atrodhangerlocations,thetendencyofpipingshouldbetodeform
downwardforoperatingloadcase,sothattherodhangerscarrythepipeweightundertension.Onthe
otherhand,ifpipeliftsupatanyoftherodhangers,thenthatrodhangergoesintocompressionthereby
notcarryingtheweightofthepipingduringoperatingcondition.Whetherthepipeweightisbeingcarried
duringoperationbyrestingsteelsupportsand/orrodhangers(bothtypesaremathematicallymodeledas
onewayverticalLimitStopsinCAEPIPE)orwhetherthepipeliftsupatthosesupportlocationsisshown
inthereporttitled"StatusofLimitStopsOperatingLoad".Thegoalistomakesurethestatusisshown
as"Reached"atallverticalLimitStopsforOperatingLoadcase.
Step6:StudyingResultsforStaticSeismic"g"Load
AfterarrivingatafinallayoutwithanacceptablepipesupportschemeunderSteps2to5forthermaland
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sustained loads, the next task is to protect piping against large horizontal and vertical movements that
could occur due to static seismic "g" load. This can be accomplished by replacing some of the weight
supportswith"integral2wayverticalandlateralrestraints".
Inthisregard,reviewstresscontourplotforoccasionalstressesgeneratedbydeadweight,pressureand
staticseismic"g"loadshownincolorcodesfrom"blue"to"red"(asinStep2above).
Thegoalistoreplacesomeoftheweightsupports(forexample,restingsupports)locatedinthe"yellow"
to"red"zoneswith"integral2wayverticalandlateralsupports",sothatstresscontourplotforoccasional
stressesavoids"orange"and"red"zonesandremainswithin"bluetoyellow"range.
Step7:Finalizing2wayVerticalandLateralRestraintstowithstandStaticSeismic"g"Load
In case occasional stresses exceed "yellow" zone in one or more areas of the piping system, study the
deformed shape provided by CAEPIPE for occasional load case in order to understand how the piping
responds to static seismic "g" load. Next, identify those weight support locations (for example, resting
supports)inthe"yellow"to"red"zoneswherethepipecanalsobelaterallysupportedandreplacethose
weightsupportswith"integral2wayverticalandlateralrestraints",suchthatoccasionalstressesdonot
exceed"yellow"zone.Thisstepmayrequireanumberofanalysisiterationswithseveraldifferentlocations
for"integral2wayverticalandlateralrestraints".
Step8:MeetingAllowableLoadsatNozzles/Anchors
Afterlocatingrelevantsupports(a)tominimizethermalstresses,(b)tocarryweightofthepipingduring
operation, and (c) to withstand static seismic "g" load, the calculated loads at nozzles/anchors in the
Support Load Summary need to be checked. If the calculated loads at nozzles/anchors exceed the
correspondingAllowableLoads,bystudyingthedeformedshapesprovidedbyCAEPIPEfordifferentload
cases,itispossibletofurthermodifythelayoutand/orsupportschemesuchthatthecalculatedloadsat
nozzles/anchorsdonotexceedtheAllowableLoads.
Asaminimum,theabovesaidNozzleLoadcomplianceshouldbecarriedoutforOperatingLoadcase.
Any such changes made to the layout and/or support scheme at this stage (i.e., at Step 8) should not
adverselyaffectthestressesforthermal,sustainedandoccasionalloadcases(i.e.allthe3stresscontour
plots should continue to avoid "orange" and "red" zones and remain within "blue to yellow" range). This
processmayrequireseveraliterationsonlayoutand/orsupportscheme.
TOP
Example1UsingExpansionLoops
DATA: An 8" NB Schedule 80 pipe (see Fig. 1A) connects two equipment at nodes 10 and 30 with an
offset of 4 (i.e., equal to distance between nodes 20 and 30). The pipe, made of A53 Grade A carbon
steel,isheatedto300F.
Thisproblemillustratestheuseofexpansionloopstoreducethermalstresses.
Figure1ALayout
AftermodelingthislayoutinCAEPIPE,uponanalysis,youwillfindthatthepipebetweennodes10and20
grows thermally to the right towards node 20, while pipe between nodes 30 and 20 grows up towards
node20,asillustratedinFig.1B.
Figure1BThermalDeflection
Thisthermaldeformationgenerateslargethermalstresses(orangeandredzones)inthebendatnode20
andatanchornode30,asshowninFig.1C.
Figure1CNoncodecompliant(noticethereds)
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Theredsillustratethattheexpansionstressisovertheallowables,andfailscodecompliance.Thislayout
willhavetobererouted.LetustrythereroutingasshowninFig.1D.
Figure1DRerouting
Fig.1Dshowsarevisedlayoutwithaloop,introducingtwoadditionalbendsatnodes14and18,thereby
makingthelayoutmoreflexible.So,thermalgrowthofXdirectionalpipesbetweennodes10and14and
then between 18 and 20 as well as the growth of Zdirectional pipe between nodes 30 and 20 are
absorbedbythethreebendsatnodes14,18and20.Thecorrespondingstresscontourplotsforthermal
andsustainedloadcasesareshowninFig.1EandFig.1F,confirmingcodecompliance.
Figure1ECodecompliantthermalcase
Figure1FCodecompliantsustainedcase
TOP
Example2SplittingThermalGrowth
DATA:ThissystemshowninFig.2Aismadeofthreepipesizes:
4"NB/Sch.40:Betweennodes10andthefirstreducer
6"NB/Sch.40:Betweenthefirstreducerandthesecondreducerandendingatnode90
8"NB/Sch.40:Betweennodes90andanchornode130
T=470F
Figure2ALayout
Sincetheloopbetweennodes10and40ismuchmoreflexible(4"pipe)thantheloopbetweennodes100
and130(8"pipe),thestraightpipebetweennodes40and100willthermallygrowmostlytowardsthe4"
loop,asshowninFig.2B,strainingthepipebetweennodes10and40.
Figure2BThermalDeformationPlot
This, in turn, produces large thermal stresses (i.e., orange and red zones) in the 4" loop and at anchor
node10,asobservedinFig.2C.Inotherwords,thethermalgrowthofpipebetweennodes40and100is
mostlyabsorbedbythe4"loopandverylittlebythe8"loop,defeatingtheverypurposeofthe8"loop.
Figure2CThermalStressContourPlot
In order to alleviate thermal stresses in the 4" loop, introduce an intermediate anchor at node 95
immediatelyafterthesecondreducer,sothatthethermalgrowthofstraightpipefromnode95tonode
100isabsorbedbythe8"loop,whilethethermalexpansionofstraightpipebetweennodes40and95is
absorbedbythe4"loop,therebymakingbothloopsachievetheirintendedpurpose.Thecorresponding
thermaldisplacementandthermalstresscontourplotsaregiveninFig.2DandFig.2Erespectively.
Figure2DThermalDeformationPlotforLayoutwithIntermediateAnchor
Figure2EThermalStressContourPlotforLayoutwithIntermediateAnchor
Fig.2Fconfirmsthatthepresentconfigurationwithonlytwoequipmentnozzlesatnodes10and130and
anintermediateanchoratnode95safelymeetsthecodestressrequirementforsustainedload.
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Figure2FSustainedStressContourPlotforLayoutwithIntermediateAnchor
TOP
Example3AxialRestraintstoDirectThermalGrowth
Thisproblemshowshowaxialrestraints(i.e.,pipesupportsthatpreventmovementalongapipesaxis)
canbeeffectivelyusedtodirectthermalgrowthtowardsexpansionloopsandsplitthermalgrowthinaline
suchthatthetwopipingportionsgrowinoppositedirections.
Figure3ALayoutwithIntermediateAnchoratNode95
Fig.3AshowsthesameproblemasinExample2butwitha6"NBbranchlineaddedattheweldingteeat
node70(i.e.,fromnode70tonode240).
Thedeformedgeometryduetothethermalload(Fig.3B),showsthattheteeatnode70doesnotmove
up in +Ydirection. The intermediate anchor at node 95 restrains the vertical riser (between nodes 220
and 70) from thermally growing upward towards node 70. As a result, this riser grows downward
producinglargebendingmomentsandstressesatandaroundequipmentnozzleatnode240.
Since the intermediate anchor effectively restrains upward growth of this vertical riser node 70, we see
largelocalizedthermalstressattheweldingtee.SeethermalstresscontourplotshowninFig.3C.
Figure3DLayoutwithAxialRestraintsatNode95and210
Fig.3Dshowsthesamepipingsystemwithoneaxialrestraintat95(replacingtheintermediateanchorat
node95)andanotheratnode210theoneatnode95splitsanddirectsthermalgrowthtowardsthe4"
and 8" loops and permits the horizontal line to move up in +Ydirection at node 70 the second one at
node 210 splits the thermal growth of the vertical riser (between nodes 220 and 70). The resulting
deformed geometry plot in Fig. 3E shows a more flexible system, which produces smaller forces and
moments,andhencestressesattheequipmentnozzlenode240andweldingteenode70.
Figure3EThermalDeformationPlotforLayoutwithAxialRestraints
Figures3Fand3Gshowthethermalandsustainedstresscontourplots(inthiscasesustainedstressis
duetoonlydeadweightaspressureiszero),confirmingacodecompliantsystemforbothloadcases.
Figure3FThermalStressContourPlotforLayoutwithAxialRestraints
Figure3GSustainedStressContourPlotforlayoutWithAxialRestraints
TOP
EXAMPLE4LocatingSupportsForDeadweightAnalysis
This example illustrates how to select and locate vertical supports to carry piping deadweight in the
operatingcondition.
Fig.4Ashowsapracticalproblemwith10"NBStandardschedulepipefromequipmentnozzleatnode5
uptothereduceratnode30,8"NBStandardschedulepipefromthisreducertothepumpnozzleatnode
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40,anda6"NBStandardschedulebranchlinefromtheweldingteeatnode25totheequipmentnozzle
atnode125.
Figure4ALayoutwithNodeNumbers
The thermal stress contour plot given in Fig. 4B confirms that the piping system is highly flexible and
hencemeetsthecoderequirementforthermalload.
Figure4BThermalStressContourPlot
Fig. 4C shows the deflected shape for sustained load (i.e., mainly deadweight). It is observed that the
weightof
i.thehorizontallinefromnode5tonode15and
ii.amajorportionoftheverticalriserfromnode15tonode20iscarriedbytheequipmentnozzleatnode
5.Ontheotherhand,thepumpnozzleatnode40carriestheweightofthehorizontallinefromnode20to
node40,
iii.thevalveportionofthebranchlinefromnode25tonode125and
iv.asmallportionoftheverticalriserfromnode15tonode20.
Figure4CSustainedLoadDeflectedShape
Thedeformationresponsefordeadweight,inturn,generateslargeforcesandmomentsandhencelarge
sustainedstressesatnozzlenodes5and40asshowninFig.4Dforsustainedstresscontourplot.
Figure4DSustainedStressContourPlot
Fig. 4E shows the same layout with variable spring hangers at the bends at nodes 20 and 115, which
carrypipingdeadweightandprovidenegligiblerestrainttothermalmovementfromcoldtohotcondition
andviceversa.
Figure4ELayoutwithHangers
ThethermalandsustainedstresscontourplotsgiveninFig.4FandFig.4Gconfirmthatthepipingsystem
withhangersiscodecomplaintforbothsustainedandthermalloadcases.
Figure4FThermalStressContourPlotforLayoutwithHangers
Figure4GSustainedStressContourPlotforLayoutwithHangers
TOP
EXAMPLE5MakingLayoutChangestoReduceThermalStresses
This practical example illustrates how to place resting steel supports to carry the system weight with
operating fluid and modify the layout in order to redirect thermal growth to comply with code stress
requirements.
Fig.5Ashowstheinitiallayoutwherecondensatefromatank(node10)isextractedbythepumpsuction
lines.Whenonepumpisoperating,theotheroneisonstandby.
Figure5ALayoutwithNodeNumbers
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FromFig.5B,weseethatthepipelinefromnodes10to100growsthermallyintheZdirection(towards
thepumps),whereasthetwopumpsuctionlines,onefromnodes120to180andtheotherfromnodes
110to250,growsintheoppositedirectiontowardsthetank(+Zdirection).So,thestraightpipebetween
nodes 100 and 120 (with a welding tee at node 110) experiences two opposing deflection patterns the
pipeportionbetweennodes110and120isbeingdeflectedinthe+Zdirectionlikearigidstickwhilethe
portionfromnodes10to100deflectsintheZdirection.
This causes the pipe between nodes 100 and 110 to bend at the tee producing high strains and hence
thermalstresseslocallyattheteenode110,asshowninFig.5C.
Inordertoreducethesethermalstressesatnode110,wecutthestraightpipebetweennodes100and
120intotwopartsonepartisthepipefromnodes100to110andthesecondpartisfromnodes111to
410to300.Wethenshiftthesecondpartdownstreamtowardsthetwopumps,resultinginthemodified
layoutshowninFig.5D.
Figure5DRevisedLayoutwithNodeNumbers
Thisshiftofpipedownstreamdoesnotadverselyincreasethepressuredropbetweenthetankatnode10
and the class=""umps at nodes 180 and 250. From the thermal deformation plot for this revised layout
showninFig.5E,wecanseethatthetwopumpsuctionlinesfromthesuctionnozzlestotheweldingtee
atnode111havealmostequalthermalgrowthinthe+Zdirection.
Figure5EThermalDeformationPlotforRevisedLayout
Thebranchpipebetweennodes111and300actsasarigidstickresultinginlowerthermalstressesin
thatbranchpipeasseeninFig.5F.
Figure5FThermalStressContourPlotforRevisedLayout
In addition, we see that the two pump suction lines make the bend node 100 grow thermally in the +Z
direction,whereasthepipefromthetanknode10tothebendnode90growsintheZdirection.These
opposingdeflectionsrotatetheinterconnectingpipebetweennodes90and100likea(horizontal)"see
saw"inthehorizontalXZplane,resultinginlowerthermalstressesinthisregion,asobservedinFig.5F.
Although the thermal stress criterion has been met, the weight stresses exceed the sustained stress
allowables,asillustratedbymanyredandorangeareasinthesustainedstresscontourplotgiveninFig
5G.
Figure5GSustainedStressContourPlotforRevisedLayout
Thisisbecausetherearenoverticalsupports(excludingthethreenozzlesandavariablespringhangerat
node52)tocarrytheweightofthesystem.Verticalrestingsupportsarethereforeintroducedasshownin
Fig.5H.
Figure5HRevisedLayoutwithRestingSupports
Therecalculatedsustainedstress(i.e.,weight+pressure)contourplot(withmostareasinblue)shownin
Fig.5Iarenowwellbelowtheallowablestressvalues,andhencecodecompliant.
Figure5ISustainedStressContourPlotforRestedlayoutwithRestingSupports
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This concludes our tutorial on the basics of pipe stress analysis. We hope you feel confident now in
"playing"withCAEPIPEbycreatingsimplemodelsandconductingseveral"whatif"studiesonthem,as
alludedtointheexamplesabove.
If you have questions, please feel free to send them to us (support@sstusa.com). If you have not
downloadedthefreepipestressanalysissoftware,visitwww.sstusa.com.
Ifyoufoundthisdocumentuseful,pleaseforwardittoacolleagueand"Like"our"Pipe Stress Analysis"
pageonFacebook.
SSTSystems,Inc.
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SanJose,CA95110USA
Phone:+1(408)4528111
Fax:+1(408)4528388
Email:ContactUs
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