Flexibility Stresses: Code Equations

Flexibility stresses

The piping system experiences different type of stresses when it is installed, tested and in operation. There are different codes according to which the system is designed, each code has different formula for calculating the stress induced in the piping system. Below mentioned are the code equations:

1. ANSI B 31.1 – Power Piping

The Power Piping Code ANSI B 31.1 specifies that the developed stresses due to sustained, occasional and expansion stresses be calculated in the following manner.

· 1.1 Sustained

Where, S_s = Sustained stress

i     = Stress Intensification factor

M_A= Resultant moment due to Primary loads

S_h = Basic allowable stress at the operating temperature

Z   = Stress Intensification factor

· 1.2 Occasional

Where, S_o  = Occasional stress

i     = Stress Intensification factor

M_B = Resultant moment due to occasional loads

K   = Stress Intensification factor

= 1.2 for loads occurring less than 1% of the time

= 1.15 for loads occurring less than 10% of the time

· 1.3 Expansion

Where, S_E  = Expansion stress range

M_C = Resultant moment due to expansion (Secondary) loads

S_A  = Allowable e+xpansion stress range

2. ANSI B 31.3 – Process Piping

· 2.1 Sustained

Where, F_ax =Axial force due to sustained (primary) loading

M_i  =In-plane bending moment due to sustained (primary) loading

M_i  = Out-plane bending moment due to sustained (primary) loading

i_ii_o = In-plane & out-plane stress intensification factor

S_h= Basic allowable stress at the operating temperature

· 2.2 Occasional

The code states that calculate the stresses due to sustained and occasional loads independently as per the above equation and then add them absolutely. The sum should not exceed 1.33 S_h.

· 2.3 Expansion

Where, M_i  =Range of inplane bending moment due to expansion (secondary) load

M_o  = Range of outplane bending moment due to expansion (secondary)load

M_T  = Range of torsional bending moment due to expansion load

S_E = Expansion stress range

S_A   = Allowable stress range

3. ANSI B 31.4 – Fuel gas piping

The code requires that the sustained, operating, expansion & occasional stresses be calculated and checked as below.

· 3.1 Sustained

Where, S_lp= Longitudinal pressure stress

S_b  = Bending stress due to sustained loads

· 3.2 Expansion

Where, S_b  = Range of bending stress due to varying loads

S_t = Range of torsional stress due to varying loads

S_y = Specified Minimum Yield stress

· 3.3 Operating

Where, F = % of axial restraint

= 1 for buried pipe lines

= 0 for above ground pipelines

E = Modulus of Elasticity

a = Thermal expansion coefficient of pipe material

dT= Temperature change from ambient

V = Poisson’s Ratio

S_H = Hoop stress =

· 3.4 Occasional

Where, S_lp = Longitudinal pressure stress

S_b  = Resultant moment due to occasional loads

K  = Occasional load factor

4. ANSI B 31.4 – Fuel gas piping

Like B 31.4 code B 31.8 also requires calculations and check of sustained, expansion, operating and occasional stress.

· 4.1 Sustained

Where, S_lp= Longitudinal pressure stress

S_b  = Bending stress due to sustained loads

S_y = Specified Minimum Yield of pipe material

F  = Factor for construction type specified in table 841.114A

T  = Temperature derating factor specified in 841.116A

· 4.2 Expansion

Where, S_b  = Bending stress due to varying loads

S_t  = Range of torsional stress due to varying loads

· 4.3 Operating

· 4.4 Occasional

Where, K  = Occasional load factor