Pipe Stress Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide (PDF)

whatispiping.com/basics-of-pipe-stress-analysis/

Anup Kumar Dey August 20, 2019

Piping Stress Analysis is the most important activity in Piping Design. Once, pipes are
routed following design guidelines, they need to be verified by piping stress analysis
to ensure they will work smoothly throughout their design life. This article will explain
the basic points for Piping Stress Analysis. Piping Stress Analysis is also termed Piping
Flexibility Analysis.

Table of Contents

What is Pipe Stress Analysis?

Objectives of Pipe Stress Analysis
Basic Concepts of Piping Stress Analysis
Governing Codes and Standards for Pipe Stress Analysis
Stresses in a Piping System
Sustained Stresses in Piping System
Expansion Stresses in Piping System
Occasional Piping Stresses
Reducing Piping Stresses
Basic Allowable Stress/ Pipe Material Stress
Loads on a Piping System
Work Flow Diagram for Pipe Stress Analysis
Stress Criticality and Analysis Methods
Stress Analysis using Caesar II
Loads and Load Combinations
Mitigation Techniques
Other Piping Stress Analysis Software:
Type of Pipe Supports
Basics of Piping Stress Analysis Tutorial Video
Questionnaire for Piping Stress Analysis

What is Pipe Stress Analysis?

Pipe Stress Analysis is an engineering activity that focuses on evaluating the stresses,
deformations, and forces within a piping system. It plays a vital role in ensuring the safe and
reliable operation of piping systems in various industries, including oil and gas,
petrochemical, power generation, and more.

Objectives of Pipe Stress Analysis

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Stress Analysis of Critical piping systems is performed to ensure the following objectives.

Structural Integrity:
Design adequacy for the pressure of the carrying fluid.
Failure against various loading in the life cycle. Limiting piping stresses below code
allowable.

Operational Integrity:
Limiting nozzle loads of the connected equipment within allowable values.
Avoiding leakage at flangedjoints.
Limiting sagging & displacement within allowable values.

Optimal Design:

Avoiding excessive flexibility and high loads on supporting structures. Aim towards an
optimal design for both piping and structure.

Basic Concepts of Piping Stress Analysis

Piping Components

Pipe stress analysis considers various components like pipes, fittings, valves, and supports.
Understanding the properties and behavior of these components is crucial for accurate
analysis.

Pipes: Different materials, sizes, and schedules are used for pipes, and they exhibit
specific stress-strain behaviors.
Fittings and Valves: These components introduce stress concentrations and affect the
overall behavior of the system.
Supports: Supports and restraints are essential for controlling pipe movements and
distributing loads.

Load Types

Pipe systems experience several load types, including:

Static Loads: Steady-state conditions like internal pressure, deadweight, and thermal
expansion.
Dynamic Loads: Transient events such as water hammer, relief valve discharge, and
seismic activity.
Thermal Loads: Temperature variations causing thermal expansion and contraction.

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Stress-Strain Relationships

Pipe stress analysis relies on understanding the stress-strain relationship of materials. Key
concepts include:

Elasticity: Materials return to their original shape when the load is removed within their
elastic limit.
Plasticity: Beyond the elastic limit, materials deform irreversibly.
Creep: Slow, time-dependent deformation under constant load and elevated
temperature.

Governing Codes and Standards for Pipe Stress Analysis

Codes and Standards specify minimum requirements for safe design and construction (i.e.
provide material, design, fabrication, installation, and inspection requirements.)

Following are the codes and standards used for Piping stress analysis of process piping:

1. ASME B31.3: Process Piping Code

2. ASME B31.1: Power Piping Code
3. Centrifugal Pumps: API 610
4. Positive Displacement Pumps: API 676
5. Centrifugal Compressors: API 617
6. Reciprocating Compressors: API 618
7. Steam Turbines: NEMA SM23/ API 612
8. Air Cooled Heat Exchanger: API 661
9. Fired Heaters: API 560
10. Flat Bottom Welded Storage Tanks: API 650
11. Heat Exchangers: TEMA/ Vendor-Specific.
12. Vessel/Column: Vendor-Specific/ ASME Sec VIII
13. ASME B 31.4/ASME B 31.8: Pipeline Stress Analysis
14. ISO 14692: GRE/GRP/FRP Piping Stress Analysis
15. ASME B31.4: Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other
Liquids
16. ASME B31.8: Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems
17. EN 13480: European standard for metallic industrial piping
18. API 570: Inspection, repair, alteration, and rerating of in-service piping systems

Stresses in a Piping System

Types of Stress

Pipe stress analysis considers various types of stress, including:

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 Axial Stress: Along the length of the pipe.
Hoop Stress: Circumferential stress due to internal pressure.
Radial Stress: Stress perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Torsional Stress: Twisting or rotational stress.
Shear Stress: Stress parallel to the pipe’s cross-section.
Bending Stress: Stress due to curvature.

Sources for the generation of stress in a Piping System:

1. Weight
2. Internal/External Pressure
3. Temperature change
4. Occasional Loads due to the wind, seismic disturbances, PSV discharge, etc.
5. Forces due to Vibration.

Sustained Stresses in Piping System

Sustained Stresses are the stresses generated by sustained loads. (e.g. Pressure, Weight).
These loads are present continuously throughout plant life.

Resistive force arising out of sustained stresses balances the external forces keeping the
system in equilibrium. Exceeding sustained allowable stress value causes catastrophic
failure of the system.

As per ASME B 31.3, (clause 302.3.5) “ The sum of the longitudinal stresses, SL, in any
component in a piping system, due to sustained loads such as pressure and weight, shall not
exceed “Sh“. Where Sh=Basic allowable stress at the metal temperature for the operating
condition being considered.

Pressure Stresses are taken care of by calculating and selecting the proper pipe thickness.
The pressure thickness (t) of a straight pipe can be obtained as per ASME B31.3 from the
equation (Clause 304.1.2) mentioned in Fig.1:

Fig. 1: Equation for Thickness Calculation for

Straight Pipe based on ASME B 31.3

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Click here to learn pipe thickness calculation in detail

Expansion Stresses in Piping System

Change in length of a pipe of length L due to temp change (ΔT) is given by ΔL=L α ΔT
Here, α =Co efficient of thermal expansion = change in length of unit length element
due to unit change in temp.
Two “α” values (denoted by A and B) in Code (Table C-1 and C-1M in ASME B31.3
Appendix C):
The thermal Co-efficient “A” of Table C-1 denotes the mean coefficient of linear
thermal expansion between 70 degrees F to the indicated temp (μin/in/0F).
The thermal Co-efficient “B” of table C-1 denotes total linear thermal expansion
between 70 degrees F to Indicated temp (unit=in/100ft).
Table C-1M provides thermal co-efficient values in the metric system.
Expansion stresses are generated when the free thermal growth due to temperature
change is restricted. These are self-limiting or self-relenting.

Stress Intensification Factor in Piping Stress Analysis

SIF( Stress Intensification Factor): This is the ratio of the maximum stress intensity to the
nominal Stress. SIF factors for different components can be obtained from Appendix D of
ASME B31.3 till edition 2018. From ASME B31.3-2020 onwards Appendix D has been
deleted. Now users are required to use ASME B31J or FEA for finding the values of SIF.

Equations for Calculating Expansion Stress Range and Allowable Stress

Value
The displacement Stress Range due to thermal expansion is calculated based on equation
SE per equation 17 from ASME B31.3( clause 319.4.4).

This SE value shall not exceed the SA value where SA= Allowable Displacement Stress
Range.

As per ASME code B 31.3 (Clause 302.3.5) the allowable displacement stress range (SA)
can be given by the equation (Fig.2):

Fig.2: Equation for Displacement Stress Range

Allowable

Here, f= Stress range reduction factor and Sc=basic allowable stress at minimum metal temp

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 When Sh > SL, the allowable stress range is calculated by the following equation (Fig.
3): SL=Longitudinal Stress due to sustained loads.

Fig.3: Equation for Liberal Displacement Stress

Range Allowable

Occasional Piping Stresses

Occasional Stresses are generated by occasional loads such as Wind, seismic, PSV
discharge, etc.
These loads act in a piping system for a very short period of time, usually less than
10% of the total working period.
As per ASME B31.3, clause 302.3.6 “The sum of the longitudinal stresses, SL, due to
sustained loads, such as pressure and weight, and of the stresses produced by
occasional loads, such as wind or earthquake should be ≤ 1.33 times the basic
allowable stress, Sh”
The code does not explicitly explain the stresses generated due to vibration.
The vibration problems are solved by engineering judgment and experience.

Reducing Piping Stresses

Piping stresses can be reduced by various methods like

Providing Support at a suitable span to reduce Weight (Sustained) stresses.

Providing Flexibility to reduce piping expansion stresses generated by thermal loading
e.g. Expansion Loops, Offsets, and Inclusion of elbows to change direction.

Flexibility check (as per clause 319.4.1, ASME B 31.3):

Refer Fig. 4

Fig.4: Flexibility Check Equation for Simple

Systems

Basic Allowable Stress/ Pipe Material Stress

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Pipe materials have defined stress limits to ensure their safety. The basic allowable stress for
a pipe material is calculated as follows:

Minimum of (As per ASME B 31.3)

1. 1/3rd of the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) of Material at operating temperature.

2. 1/3rd of UTS of material at room temperature.
3. 2/3rd of Yield Tensile Strength (YTS) of material at operating temperature.
4. 2/3rd of YTS of material at room temp.
5. 100% of average stress for a creep rate of 0.01% per 1000 hr.
6. For structural grade materials basic allowable stress=0.92 times the lowest value
obtained from 1 through 5 above.

Loads on a Piping System

There are two types of loads that act on a piping system: Static loads and Dynamic Loads

Fig.5: Examples of Static Loads

Static loads are those loads that act very slowly and the system gets enough time to react
against it. Examples of static loads are shown in Fig.5

Fig. 6: Examples of Dynamic Loads

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On the other hand, dynamic loads act so quickly that the system does not get enough time to
react against them. Examples of dynamic loads are shown in Fig.6

Work Flow Diagram for Pipe Stress Analysis

The interaction of the Piping Stress team with other disciplines in any organization is shown
in Fig. 7:

Fig.7: Inter-Departmental Interaction with Stress

Team

Stress Criticality and Analysis Methods

 Highly Critical Lines (Steam turbine, Compressor connected pipelines): By Computer
Analysis
 Moderately Critical Lines (AFC connected lines): By Computer Analysis
 Low critical Lines: Visual/Simple Manual Calculation/Computer analysis and
 Non-Critical Lines: Visual Inspection

Stress Analysis using Caesar II

Caesar II by Hexagon is the most popular and widely used international pipe stress analysis
software. Pipe stress analysis is normally performed in four steps as listed below:

Basics of Pipe Stress Analysis

Basics of Pipe Stress Analysis
Input Collection for Piping Stress Analysis
Performing the stress analysis
Interpreting the results and suggesting changes if required
Providing Recommendations Based on Analysis

Inputs required for Piping Stress Analysis:

Stress Isometric from Layout Group

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 Line Designation Table (LDT) or Line List And P&ID from Process
Equipment GA and Other detailed drawings from Mechanical
Process flow diagram/datasheet if required from the process
Piping Material Specification
PSV/ Control Valve GA and Datasheet from Instrumentation
Soil Characteristics from civil for underground analysis
Nozzle load limiting Standards
Plot Plan for finding HPP elevation and equipment orientation.
Governing Code

Stress Analysis:
Checking the completeness of the piping system received as a stress package.
Node numbering on stress Iso.
Filling the design parameters (Design temperature, Design pressure,
Operating Temperature, Minimum Design Temperature, Fluid density, Material, Line
Size and
thickness, Insulation thickness, density, Corrosion allowance, etc.) on stress Isometric.
Modeling the piping system in Caesar using parameters from stress Iso.
Analyzing the system and obtaining results.

Conclusion & Recommendation:

Whether to accept the system or to suggest necessary changes in layout and support to
make the system acceptable as per standard requirements.

Outputs from Stress Analysis:

 Final marked up Iso’s to Layout
 Support Loads to Civil
 Spring Hanger Datasheets.
 Datasheets for Special Supports like Sway brace, Struts, Snubbers, etc.
 SPS drawings
 Stress Package final documentation for records

Loads and Load Combinations

Pressure Loads
Internal and external pressure loads must be accurately analyzed to determine their impact
on the piping system.

Temperature Changes

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Temperature fluctuations can cause significant thermal stresses, particularly in large, high-
temperature systems.

Deadweight and Operating Loads

The weight of pipes, fittings, valves, and insulation contributes to the system’s overall load.

Wind and Seismic Loads

External forces like wind and seismic events must be considered in high-risk areas.

Water Hammer Effects

Water hammer, or hydraulic shock, occurs when there is a sudden change in fluid flow,
resulting in pressure surges that can damage piping systems.

Mitigation Techniques

Redesign
Modifying the piping layout or design to reduce stress concentrations and improve overall
system performance.

Adding Supports or Expansion Joints

Introducing additional supports or expansion joints to reduce stress and accommodate
thermal expansion.

Reinforcement

Strengthening critical areas of the piping system to withstand higher loads and pressures.

Other Piping Stress Analysis Software:

There are a few other pipe stress analysis software available in the market which is used as
alternatives to Caesar II software like

Auto-Pipe by Bentley
Start-Prof by PASS (Russia)
Rohr-2 by SIGMA Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH (Germany)
CAEPIPE by SST Systems Inc (USA)

Type of Pipe Supports

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Pipe Stress Analysis will be incomplete without a few words about piping supports. Piping
stress analysis, in one way, is the selection of proper supports and placing them in the
correct location to avoid detrimental stresses in the piping systems. Various types of supports
are used in the piping and pipeline industry like

Rest Support: Restrict downward movements.

Guide Support: Arrest lateral movements.
Line Stop or Axial Stop: Restrict axial or longitudinal movement of the pipe.
Anchor Support: Completely fixed. Restrict all six degrees of freedom. The pipe at
this support point can’t translate or rotate.
Variable Spring Hanger Support: Flexible support, acting as Resting support with
flexibility to thermal movements.
Constant Spring Hanger: Flexible support, that acts as Rest support allowing thermal
displacements.
Rigid Hanger: Hanging support from the top.
Struts: Dynamic Restraint
Snubbers: Dynamic Restraint
Sway Braces, etc.

In piping stress analysis supports can be classified into two groups

1. Uni-Directional Piping Support and

2. Bi-Directional Pipe Support.

Unidirectional pipe support is free to move in one direction like +Y, +X, +Z, etc here the
supports are free to move in +y, +x, and +z respectively. However, bi-directional piping
supports arrests movement in both directions like Y, X, or Z supports.

Basics of Piping Stress Analysis Tutorial Video

To learn the above-mentioned points in detail refer to the following video:

Basic Piping Stress Analysis Video Tutorial

Questionnaire for Piping Stress Analysis

What are the various types of loads that cause stresses in the piping system?
Which code do we refer to for Refinery Piping?
Which standard governs the design of Pumps?
The coefficient of thermal expansion of a substance is 1.8 mm/m/Deg.F. What is its
value in mm/mm/Deg.C.?
Calculate the minimum pipe thickness of a seamless 10” NB A106- Gr B material with a
design pressure of 20 bars. (Design Temp= 350 degrees C and Corrosion allowance=
1.6 mm)?

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Few more piping resources for you..
Basic Piping Stress Analysis Articles
Piping Stress Analysis using Caesar II
Piping Stress Analysis using Start-Prof
Piping Design and Layout Basics
Piping Materials Basics
Tutorials on Piping Design Softwares

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