Matpro Version 1.0: PRG 2005 Release Aug. 1, 2005

PRG 2005 Release Aug. 1, 2005 www.paulin.
com
MatPRO Version 1.0

MatPRO is a generic material data base with extended high temperature properties. MatPRO
includes a generic PRG database that contains a random sampling of materials along with a full set
of the 2000, 2002 and 2004 ASME Section II Part D Division 1 and Division 2 material data bases.
MatPRO high temperature material properties come from API 579, API RP510 and ASME Section
III Subpart NH.
The principle uses of MatPRO include:
1) Electronic look up of material allowables and properties

2) Material property comparisons
3) High Temperature Code Evaluations beyond the limits of ASME Section VIII Div 2.
One of the major omissions of the piping Codes is the consideration of creep-fatigue interaction.
High primary stresses reduce the ability of the high temperature material to sustain cyclic stresses.
The interaction between primary and fatigue stress categories is not included in the B31 piping
codes. ASME III Subsection NH includes these effects in the creep-fatigue interaction diagram.
This evaluation is included automatically in the Subsection NH reporting capability in MatPRO.
MatPRO will also compare the allowables, tensile strengths, yields or rupture strength of any
number of materials and includes filters to make material look up easier.
MatPRO generates fatigue curves from ASME Section VIII Division 2, Markl and API 579. Each
curve can be plotted together for comparison.
MatPRO is started by clicking on the MatPRO icon that should be on the user’s desktop:
The MatPRO current database will initialize and then the following screen will appear after the
databases are loaded.
© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 6.1

PRG 2005 Release Aug. 1, 2005 www.paulin.com
Mat/PRO v1.0: High Temperature Guidelines

Nomenclature
Plasochronous Stress-Strain Curve – Stress strain curve that includes creep and plasticity effects.
Isochronous Stress Strain Curves – Stress strain curve that includes creep effects only.
Elastic Follow-Up – Condition where elastic energy stored in the piping system due to resistance to thermal expansion is
relieved locally resulting in high strains, that increase over time.
Creep-Fatigue – The interaction of cyclic loading with high temperature effects. Creep-fatigue interaction can significantly
reduce the ability for the system to carry high temperature or cyclic loadings, but this effect is not considered in the B31
piping codes.
Creep – High temperature material effect that is a function of time at stress.
High Temperature – Any temperature where creep strains are an important part of the system evaluation. The determination
of high-temperature is material dependant, but for many common steels high temperature effects begin to become important
above 800 F.
Symbols
t Time that a primary acting creep load acts (hours)

T Allowed time to rupture of the primary acting creep load (hours)
s Peak stress at the point of interest (psi)
S Allowable peak stress for the given number of design cycles (psi)
n Actual number of cycles
N Allowed number of cycles at a stress of “s”
wt wall thickness

Table of Contents
Nomenclature ........................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Symbols.................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2
1 Guidelines for High Temperature Applications.............................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Summary of guidelines.......................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 High Temperature Stress Strain Curves and Creep-fatigue Interaction................................................................. 4
2 Recommended High Temperature Approaches for Vessels and Piping Systems by Element Type............................... 5
2.1 Analysis Based on Beam Elements ....................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Analysis Based on Shell Element.......................................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Analysis Based on Volumetric 2d and 3d Elements.............................................................................................. 9
3 Using MatPRO.............................................................................................................................................................. 10
4 Examples ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14
4.1 Example Problem 1 – Piping Systems and Beam Elements (Elastic Analysis) .................................................. 14
4.2 Example Problem 2 – Detailed Local Elastic Finite Element Analysis............................................................... 24
4.3 Example Problem 3 – Detailed Local Inelastic Finite Element Analysis............................................................ 32
5 High Temperature Evaluations ..................................................................................................................................... 41
5.1 Notes from “Developments in Elevated Temperature Structural Design Criteria,” by Mr. Fred Snow and M.T.
Jakub. 42
5.2 Excerpts from ASME Division 1 Subsection NH Class 1 Components in Elevated Temperatrure Service ....... 43
5.3 Per API 579 10.5.6 Creep-Fatigue Assessment of Dissimilar Weld Joints. ........................................................ 46
5.4 ASME Section VIII Division 1 and B31.1/B31.3 Approaches ........................................................................... 47
5.5 Rule Outlines for ASME Section III Subsection NH: ......................................................................................... 48
5.6 Excerpts from Nuclear Code Case N-253 ........................................................................................................... 53

1 Guidelines for High Temperature Applications
Primary, secondary and fatigue rules for elevated temperature service have similarities to rules used for non-elevated
temperature service. The principle differences include:
1) High Temperature primary stress allowables are based additionally on rupture and strain limits as well as yield and
tensile stress limits.
2) Secondary stresses that are calculated using linear elastic analyses must conservatively be assumed to have primary
qualities because of creep-driven elastic follow-up. These potentially excessive conservatisms can be removed when a
nonlinear material analysis is performed to quantify the actual strains.
3) Creep-fatigue interaction occurs. The effect can be considered many ways. The four most common methods are:
a) Reduced cyclic reduction factor based on material and temperature.

b) Reduced cycle life based on material, primary stress state, weld quality and temperature
c) Creep-Fatigue Interaction Envelopes
d) Specific Problem Correlations and rules i.e. API 579 Part 10 rules for bimetallic welds.
High temperature weld embrittlement in heat affected zones has led to a significant number of failures of steam piping
components. Modern weld technologies produce welds that tend not become embrittled in high temperature service, but
older weld joints, or extreme service conditions can result in welds that become embrittled after years of service and suffer
creep-fatigue cracking.
The interaction of creep and fatigue is a very complex phenomena, and is very difficult to accurately quantify. The rules
outlined herein take a simplistic approach to these problems following guidance provided in ASME Section III Subsection
NH, further simplified by:
1) The assumption that the problem loading can be comprised of a single major pressure and temperature cycle.
2) Any nonlinear strains associated with the single pressure and temperature cycle exist equally for each cycle. The
material may strain harden, but there will be no relaxation of the strain range due to a redistribution of stress due to
strain hardening. (This assumption is considered conservative.)
3) A creep-fatigue interaction diagram gives good general guidance for the interaction of cyclic stresses and sustained
loads occurring at the same point in a stressed high temperature geometry.
The methods described below are taken in part from ASME III Subsection NH, ASME III Subsections NB, NC and ND,
ASME VIII Division 2, API 579, and API 530, and are intended to provide an improvement over the high temperature rules
used in the B31 piping codes and ASME Section VIII Division 1. These guidelines are intended to provide allowables and
stress combination methods that apply above the temperature limits given for ASME Section VIII Division 2, Appendices 4
and 5. (ASME Section VIII Division 2 only provides rules for temperatures where creep is not a mechanism of strain or
failure.) A summary of the guidelines is given below
1.1 Summary of guidelines

1) Primary (or sustained) stresses must be limited to creep-rupture related stress and displacement limits.
2) High Temperature primary (or sustained) stresses add to the effect of cycling and this effect can be reasonably
considered by use of a creep-fatigue interaction diagram.
3) High Temperature ratcheting rules are similar to low temperature ratcheting rules but are not identical. These rules
are generally not employed, but can be addressed using MatPRO and the ASME NH reporting feature.

4) In high temperature stress states secondary (or thermally induced stresses) can take on qualities of primary stresses
resulting in elastic follow-up and excessive strains. It is typically too conservative to always include these stresses into
primary evaluations and so designers must be:
a) Aware of the condition and avoid it, or
b) Run a nonlinear material analysis using plasochronous stress strain curves to determine the inelastic strain and
degree of elastic follow-up present.
MatPRO can help the designer be aware when creep allowables begin governing the design and with FE/Pipe provides
a nonlinear approach to evaluating maximum strains to be sure that creep-fatigue and elastic follow-up does not occur.
5) Peak cyclic stresses should be compared to reduced, high temperature allowables.
6) Peak cyclic stresses should be evaluated with primary (sustained) stresses and evaluated using a creep-fatigue
diagram.
1.2 High Temperature Stress Strain Curves and Creep-fatigue Interaction

Isochronous and plasochronous stress strain curves are a family of stress-strain curves. Each curve is for a particular time
and temperature. These curves can be used in linear and nonlinear analyses to predict the elastic plus creep strain for a
particular stress, time and temperature. Isochronous stress strain curves are based on high temperature properties only.
Plasochronous stress strain curves use the lowest value of stress vs. strain for a given curve. Plasochronous curves can be
used in all cases. Isochronous curves are used to show where creep effects govern and are used more for reference and
interest. An example plasochronous stress strain curve family is shown below:
Figure 1 – (Sample) Family of Plasochronous Stress-Strain Curves
Creep-Fatigue interaction can be evaluated by use of the creep-fatigue interaction diagram like the one shown below. The
creep-fatigue interaction diagram is affected by material and degree of weld embrittlement that will occur over time. The
axes of the creep-fatigue interaction diagram are t/T and s/S or n/N.
t - Time that a primary acting creep load acts

T - Allowed time to rupture of the primary acting creep load
s - Peak stress at the point of interest
S - Allowable peak stress for the given number of design cycles
n - Actual number of cycles
N - Allowed number of cycles at a stress of “s”
The ASME Codes recommend the use of n/N for the range of the creep-fatigue interaction diagram. At Paulin Research
Group we recommend the use of s/S for the range of the creep-fatigue interaction diagram. Reasons for this include:
1) PRG comparisons cover a broader range of materials than ASME NH

2) PRG comparisons are load and cycle simplified, i.e. the user does not have to go through multiple load cycle
counting, etc.

3) There is wide scatter in the creep-fatigue interaction data. In our opinion, this low repeatability does not justify a
less conservative approach.
Figure 2 – The Creep-Fatigue Interaction Diagram
The guidelines given below start with a minimum set of rules and proceed to more comprehensive rules that require
additional analyses and/or evaluations. Example problems are provided that demonstrate the application of the rules.
Equations in the example problems are referenced in the requirement descriptions given below.
2 Recommended High Temperature Approaches for Vessels and Piping Systems by Element
Type
The guidelines start with an evaluation of the stresses that can be calculated using a beam analysis and proceed to the
detailed stresses that can be calculated with shell, brick or axisymmetric finite element analysis.
2.1 Analysis Based on Beam Elements
Minimum Requirements – 0 (number of cycles < 200):
Perform B31.3 or B31.1 beam analysis as defined in the Code, with adjusted (reduced) allowable stresses. This
modification recognizes that high temperature allowables are based on creep rates of 0.01% per 1000 hr, and
average and minimum rupture stress at 100,000 hr. Most high temperature piping systems operate in the creep
regime for more than 100,000 hr. (11.4 years), and fatigue strength is affected at creep temperatures in a manner
not considered solely by the reduction in allowable stress. Older welded joints may be susceptible to embrittlement
and reduced allowables should be used where thermal stresses are high and embrittlement is suspected. When the
actual life is significantly greater than 100,000 hr. MatPRO can be used to produce creep rupture strengths at these
times.
Recommended Approach – 1 (200 < number of cycles < 1000):
Perform B31.3 or B31.1 beam analysis and where the number of design cycles is in excess of 200 compute a high
temperature cyclic reduction factor per Nuclear Code Case N-253-9 Equation 10-a (described below.) The
sustained stress evaluation should follow the approach identified in Minimum Requirements-0. Where the number
of full load cycles exceeds 1000 consider performing a creep-fatigue interaction analysis per Recommended
Approach-2 below.
Recommended Approach – 2 (number of cycles >1000):
Step 1) Compare B31 Calculated stresses from the pressure and weight case to minimum material rupture strengths at time
and temperature, or to the Code allowable, whichever is less, i.e. PD/4t + iM/Z < Sallow. Use MatPRO to find the
minimum rupture strength for any Code material at any given time and temperature. If the pipe D/T is greater than
50 consider using shell elements instead of beam elements for highly loaded intersections in the model. (Shell or
brick models of intersections can more accurately assess the tendency for elastic follow-up to contribute to creep
straining.)

Step 2) Use the operating weight + pressure stresses found in step 1) above to determine the minimum rupture time at
temperature. This minimum rupture time is – T.
Step 3) Compute the Creep Life Fraction as (t/T) where “t” is the actual time at temperature. The creep life fraction must
be less than 1.
Step 4) Compute the Fatigue Life Fraction as (s/S) where “s” is the calculated B31 peak stress SE as per B31.3 319.4.4
Equation (17), and “S” is the allowed secondary stress Sa per 31.3 302.3.5 (d) Equation (1b).
The fatigue life fraction must be less than 1. (Note that most rules use n/N as the fatigue life fraction in a creep-
fatigue evaluation, except where only a single major loading is considered, the more conservative use of s/S is
recommended.)
A less conservative approach uses the cycle life approach. In this case the fatigue life fraction is the number of
actual cycles of load divided by the allowed number of cycles at the given stress level. The allowed number of
cycles for a given stress SE can be found from the equations below.
a) Markl Equation: N = [(SE)(Ec) / (30E6)(245,000) ]-5

b) ASME Section VIII Division 2 Appendix 5 Fatigue Curve
c) API 579 Fatigue Curve for Welds.
Note that ASME Section VIII Division 2 Appendix 5 Fatigue curves are for the alternating stress component. The B31
calculated stress range SE should be compared directly to the Appendix 5 curves however since the stress intensification
factor used in the B31 analysis is half of the actual peak stress. The API 579 Fatigue curves are designed to be used with
the mean stress range removed from the hot spot stress. If the hot spot stress increase is about 2.0, as is found in the API
579 difference between the class 40 and class 124+ curves, then the B31 stress range SE can be compared directly to the
API 579 curves for a weld class 124+.
Step 5) Enter the Creep Life Fraction and the Fatigue Life fraction as well as the material and the weld tendency to
become brittle during high temperature service into MatPRO to find the effect of creep-fatigue interaction as per
ASME III NH Fig. T-1420-2 modified. (Or use the creep-fatigue interaction diagram on the above page to
determine the acceptability of the primary and secondary load state.) Examples illustrating this approach are given
below.
Recommended Approach – 3:
The approach described below is a generalized extension of the method recommended in API 579 for high
temperature evaluations. PRG has modified the API 579 approach to address a more general situation. The user is
cautioned that it might not apply for materials, conditions and temperatures outside of those for which the
method was derived. The user is urged to independently verify the application. This method involves two
parts: a secondary/fatigue stress fraction and a primary stress fraction.
The sum of the primary and secondary stress fractions must be less than one.
Part 1) Secondary / Fatigue Stress Fraction
The allowable high temperature secondary stress is found from: SHT = (0.1)(SA)[(t)(10β)]-0.37
where SA = Allowable From B31.3 Equation 1a (psi) = [ f(1.25(Sc+Sh) – SL )

t = total time at temperature (hr)
β = 13.26 – 31032 / (To+460)
To = Operating Temperature (°F)
At a bimetallic weld, the B31 user should add E∆α(To-70)/2 to the calculated operating or expansion stress range
(SE) to obtain the stress to compare against the above secondary stress allowable.
The FE/Pipe user should compare Pl+Pb+Q to the allowable secondary stress calculated above.

The fatigue life fraction is found by raising the ratio of the calculated to allowable stress to the 2.7 power, i.e.
Fatigue Life Fraction = [ ( SE + E∆α(To-70)/2 ) / SHT ] 2.7
Part 2) Primary Stress Fraction
The allowable primary (sustained) stress: SHTsus= (0.5)(Sh) [(t)(10β)]-0.37
Sh is the lesser of the B31 Code allowable, the ASME Section VIII Division 1 allowable, or the minimum rupture
strength at time and temperature.
The primary sustained stress is taken directly from a B31 beam analysis, or for a shell or brick detailed FEA
analysis is found as Pl.
The life fraction for the primary/sustained stresses is:
Primary/Sustained Life Fraction = ( SB31 / SHTsus ) 2.7
Recommended Approach – 3a For Bimetallic Welds – Strain Approach
Bimetallic welds induce secondary stresses and strains in the local vicinity of the weld. The stresses due to these
welds should be added to the fatigue evaluation for the component and the strains limited to 1%. An estimate of
the strain at the bimetallic weld can be found below:
Bimetallic weld allowable strain:

ε < 0.01
Procedure to find thermal strain in bimetallic weld:
Eab = Elastic modulus at temperature (averaged for both materials)

R = mean radius of pipe = ( OD – t ) / 2
∆α = thermal expansion difference between the two materials
T = Temperature of the bimetallic joint
ε1 = ∆αT
D = Ewt3 / [(12)(1-v2)]
λ = [ (3)(1-v2) / (R2wt2) ] 1/4
M = 2R∆αTDλ2
ε2 = 6M/Ewt2
ε = 2/3 [ (ε12 + ε22 + ε1ε2 ) ] 1/2
The thermal strain should be added to the pressure strain and the result less than 0.01. This can be approximated by finding
the following summation for an ASME VIII Div 2 type analysis.
ε / 0.01 + Pl / 1.5Smh < 1.0
The thermal and pressure strain contributions can also be approximated by finding the following summation for a B31
analysis.:
ε / 0.01 + SL / Sh < 1.0.
2.2 Analysis Based on Shell Element

Shell element models permit a more detailed evaluation of the stress state and provide a conservative way to confirm that
elastic follow-up does not produce excessive high temperature strains. For intersections, elbows and other discontinuities,
loads having strain limited origins are applied in a non-strain limited manner using nonlinear material models to obtain
upper bounds on predicted strains.
Minimum Requirements – 4:
Apply the primary and secondary stress rules of ASME Section VIII Division 2 Appendix 4 (Pl<1.5Sm and
Pl+Pb+Q<3Sm) and linear elastic analysis using cold and hot allowables from ASME Section VIII Division 1
where creep temperature effects have been considered.
Most high temperature piping systems operate in the creep regime for more than 100,000 hr. (11.4 years), and
fatigue strength is affected at creep temperatures in a manner not considered solely by the reduction in allowable
stress. Older welded joints may be susceptible to embrittlement and reduced allowables should be used where
thermal stresses are high and embrittlement is suspected. When the actual life is significantly greater than 100,000
hr. MatPRO can be used to produce creep rupture strengths at these times. Similarly, MatPRO can be used to
evaluate high temperature events that occur at fewer than 100,000 hr.
Compare the Pl+Pb+Q+F alternating peak stress computed using linear elastic elements per the rules of ASME
Section VIII Division 2 Appendix 5 (FE/Pipe or NozzlePRO) to the allowables found from Nuclear Code Case N-
253-9 Equation 10-a.
<or>
Compare the Pl+Pb+Q+F alternating peak stress computed using linear elastic elements per the rules of ASME
Section VIII Division 2 Appendix 5 (FE/Pipe or NozzlePRO) to the allowable found from MatPRO using the
lower of the Markl, API 579, or ASME allowables where each is modified to include high temperature effects.
Apply the primary and secondary stress rules of ASME Section VIII Division 2 Appendix 4 and linear elastic
analysis to find Pl and Pl+Pb+Q. Enter these values into MatPRO with the appropriate material identification and
the welds tendency to become embrittled in high temperature service. MatPRO will produce an ASME III NH T-
1300 evaluation for secondary stresses and a T-1400 evaluation for creep-fatigue interaction effects using the
linear elastic results.
Run MatPRO for the material of construction at the operating temperature and design life to produce a
plasochronous, bilinear stress strain curve. Enter this curve into FE/Pipe and run a conservative plastic analysis
using the operating load case and operating loads. Sum the elastic and plastic strains from the analysis. Enter Pl,
and Pl+Pb+Q from the linear elastic analysis, and the operating creep/plastic strains from the nonlinear analysis
into MatPRO to produce a nonlinear T-1300/T-1400 secondary analysis for high temperature and a creep-fatigue
interaction analysis.
An extension of the API 579 high temperature rule recommendations is described under the notes for
Recommended Approach – 3. The recommendations described can be applied to a shell finite element analysis.
Part 1) Secondary / Fatigue Stress Fraction

Fatigue Life Fraction = [ Pl+Pb+Q + Sbiweld/ SHT ] 2.7
Part 2) Primary Stress Fraction
Primary/Sustained Life Fraction = ( Pl / 1.5SHTsus ) 2.7

2.3 Analysis Based on Volumetric 2d and 3d Elements
Volumetric 2d and 3d elements can be analyzed using the same procedure as shell elements except that the Pl and
Pl+Pb+Q stresses must be obtained from integrations of the stress tensor components through the pertinent thicknesses
as recommended in WRC 429. StressPLOT delivered with FE/Pipe can be used to produce these linearizations. Plastic
and creep strains can also be produced in volumetric elements and included in the MatPRO T-1300 and T-1400
analysis.

3 Using MatPRO
When MatPRO starts, the default database is read. (There is only one database available at this time, the July 02
ASME Data Base. The 04 database will be available shortly after testing.)
The startup MatPRO screen appears below. The user can select individual materials by clicking on the material
selection drop down as shown in the second figure below. For this illustration the user will select SA-106 B
Seamless pipe. When SA 106 Gr. B is selected the material properties for the Temperature displayed are shown
in the data fields at the bottom of the screen. The user may also change the Temperature displayed and the
properties will be immediately updated. This sequence is illustrated in the screen shots below.
Data cells can be copied to the clip board and pasted into FE/Pipe, or any of the PRO series data cells.
The user can also click on the “Show More” arrows on the right side of the vertical form. The form will open up
to the right and the data added to the material list will be displayed in a Code-similar format as shown below.

To plot generation screen appears below:
The variety of plots that can be generated are shown along the top of the screen. Data required for each plot type
is provided in the four frames at the bottom of the window. There are four groupings of plot option check boxes
and three data collection boxes that pertain to each grouping. The user is encouraged to experiment with each
option to see what is produced. A summary of each plot type is described below:
Sm,Yield,Tensile,Modulus,Alpha – Generates material property curves as a function of temperature. Rupture

strength at the exact number of hours of operation can be plotted and compared to 2/3 yield stress so that user’s
know when the creep allowables govern material behavior. In a cyclic loading condition where creep effects
govern, the effect of creep and fatigue can be strong.

Fatigue – Generates stress range versus number of cycle plots. Curves can be generated for Markl, ASME
Section VIII Division 2 App. 5 or API 579. Curves are adjusted as a function of temperature as suggested in
ASME Section III Subsection NH.
Creep-Fatigue – Creep life fraction is plotted on the horizontal axis and fatigue life fraction is plotted on the
vertical axis. Areas under the curve satisfy Code requirements, while areas outside the curve exceed Code
allowables for creep-fatigue interaction. Curves are adjusted on a material and on an embrittlement basis.
Embrittled welds very strongly effects creep-fatigue interaction.
Creep-Rupture – Rupture stress is plotted as a function of temperature for a list of times. Plot can be used to
see the effect of time and temperature on rupture strength.
Creep-Stress – Creep stress plots are used to determine the allowed operating time at a given temperature and
stress state. These plots are used extensively to evaluate the creep life fraction.

Isochronous, Plasochronous, and Stress-Strain – Single or familes of curves that show the variation in the
stress strain plot as a function of time and temperature for isochronous and plasochronous stress-strain curves,
and as a function of temperature only for the typical stress strain curve. The difference between the curves is that
the isochronous curves include the temperature effect only. The plasochronous curves include both the
temperature and plasticity effects, and the stress-strain curves include only the plasticity effect.
ASME III NH Report – The data entry screen and report is shown below. The user selects a point on the
geometry to evaluate and enters the primary and secondary linear elastic stresses, and the nonlinear strains (if
available). Other data is self explanatory. A section of the NH report is shown in the window on the right.

4 Examples
4.1 Example Problem 1 – Piping Systems and Beam Elements (Elastic Analysis)
Figure 1 – Example Piping System
The above loop must operate at 1000 degF for 5000 cycles and 300,000 hours. For simplicity the system will be stopped at
the anchor adjacent to the intersection and at the Y support on the riser. The cycle life requirement is relatively low, but the
total hours in the creep regime is higher than the 100,000 hours used in the ASME allowable determination equation.
MatPRO and basic stress analysis will be used to evaluate the stress states and to evaluate creep-fatigue interaction. This
problem also includes a bimetallic weld junction just above the intersection.
The first steps will be to evaluate the allowables at the increased number of hours, and then to determine if the stresses
exceed the allowables. There will be four times of stresses evaluated:
1) Primary/Sustained Evaluation (with adjusted high temperature allowable if needed).
2 )Secondary Evaluation. (Not typically done with piping but required for ASME VIII Div. 2 and ASME III
evaluation. The secondary allowable is often related to 3Sm and is only performed when a “detailed” evaluation is
performed – see example 2.)
3) Fatigue Evaluation (extended typical B31 “thermal” stress evaluation.)
4 )Creep-Fatigue Interaction Evaluation
A linear elastic beam model of this system run using FE/Pipe is shown below: (Similar results could be developed using
CAESAR elastic models of the piping systems.)

Figure 2 – Piping Model and Results
B31 Expansion Stresses
Expansion B31 ASME Markl

Stress Allowable Allowable Allowable
psi psi psi psi Regions / Notes
12103. 34750. 35140. 41701. Pipe Elements

Load Case 5, Inner, Plot 7
12103. 34750. 35140. 41701. Pipe Elements

Load Case 5, Outer, Plot 8
Highest Primary Stress Ratios
Pl 1.5(k)Smh Primary Membrane Load Case 2

1,004 11,700 Plot Reference:
psi psi 1) Pl < 1.5(k)Smh (SUS,Membrane) Case 2
8%
Highest Secondary Stress Ratios
Pipe Elements
Pl+Pb+Q 3(Smavg) Primary+Secondary (Inner) Load Case 5

12,103 41,700 Plot Reference:
psi psi 5) Pl+Pb+Q < 3(Smavg) (EXP,Inside) Case 5
29%
Highest Fatigue Stress Ratios
Pipe Elements
Pl+Pb+Q+F Sa Primary+Secondary+Peak (Inner) Load Case 5

12,103 35,140 Stress Concentration Factor = 2.000
psi psi Strain Concentration Factor = 1.000
Cycles Allowed for this Stress = 332639.3
34% "B31" Fatigue Stress Allowable = 41000.0
Markl Fatigue Stress Allowable = 41701.0
Plot Reference:
7) Pl+Pb+Q+F < Sa (EXP,Inside) Case 5
Beam Element Stresses
NODES Sl Sh Tau Si Sc Sh
3.0 8562. 1002. 0. 9564. 20000. 7800.

4.0 11747. 1002. 0. 12103. 20000. 7800.
4.0 894. 1002. 0. 1897. 20000. 7800.

2.0 885. 1002. 0. 1887. 20000. 7800.

Stresses from pipe stress program analysis are the highest at the intersection and so this is the point that will be evaluated.
The stresses at the intersection are:
Sustained Stress (SL)(PL): 1,004 psi.

Expansion Stress (SE)(Pl+Pb+Q+F): 12,103 psi
The first step is to find the minimum and average rupture strengths for the material at 300,000 hours and 1100 degrees F.
MatPRO can be used.
The two materials selected from the MatPRO database on either side of the bimetallic weld are:
SA-312 TP304L 18Cr-8Ni Seamless & Wld Pipe (#63) B31.3 Allowable at 1000F = 7,800 psi
SA-335 P22 2-1/4Cr-1Mo Seamless Pipe (#31) B31.3 Allowable at 1000F = 7,800 psi.
The design life is 300,000 hrs and the temperature is 1000 degF. MatPRO is used to generate average and minimum creep
rupture curves at 1000F for both materials and for a range of temperatures around 1000F so that the sensitivity of the
solution to temperature can be determined. (It is likely that furnace or pipe temperatures may vary during its design life.)
The MatPRO plot of the average and minimum rupture data for 300,000 hrs is shown below for 304 and 2-1/4 Cr: (For the
ASME Code minimum properties tend to be used in the primary allowables, and where needed, average properties used for
secondary, strain, and fatigue allowables.)
Figure 3 – Rupture Strength for 300,000 hours
The numerical values of the rupture strengths are:
304 SS Avg Rupture Strength at 1000F and 300,000 hrs. = 24.4 ksi
304 SS Min Rupture Strength at 1000F and 300,000 hrs. = 16.8 ksi …. Higher than Code Allowable
2-1/4 Cr Avg Rupture Strength at 1000F and 300,000 hrs. = 9.401 ksi
2-1/4 Cr Min Rupture Strength at 1000F and 300,000 hrs. = 7.5 ksi. … slightly lower than Code Allowable
The B31.3 Code hot allowable stresses for TP 304L are smaller than the minimum creep rupture strength. This is because
the allowables are the lesser of of creep rupture, yield, tensile and creep rate requirements. MatPRO can superimpose yield
and tensile stress curves as a function of temperature so that the lowest value can be selected. In the figure below, the 2/3
yield stress vs. temperature curve is superimposed on the rupture strength plots. As can be seen, for 304, the yield strength
governs the allowable at 1000F. MatPRO permits the entry of any multiplication factor for properties. Input and results
for yield and creep-rupture plots overlapping are shown below.

Figure 4 – Rupture Strength at 300,000 hrs. AND 2/3 Yield Strength at 1000F
Since the standard Code allowables are smaller than or approximately equal to, the rupture strength at 300,000 hrs because
yield strength governs at this time at a 1000F temperature, there is no need for additional primary allowable stress
comparisons based on the 300,000 hr rupture strength limit. When the creep allowable strongly governs the allowable and
a local discontinuity is subject to cycles in excess of 2000, the user is encouraged to consider the nonlinear strain evaluation
procedure suggested below.
Primary Stress Evaluation:
The highest primary stress in the system is 1004 psi. This is much below the allowable of 7,800 psi, and so the B31 Code
flexibility evaluation for primary stresses appears OK. The reader should not however, that the B31 flexibility stress
equations are not intended to evaluate the system for pressure containment or for local stress effects such as bimetallic
welds. Just because the B31 flexibility equations for pressure stress are satisfied it does not mean the system is adequate for
high temperature pressure containment. When high temperatures govern, hoop stress must be carefully considered. This is
particularly true when the actual rupture strength allowables are lower than Code allowables. Additionally, B31 Code rules
are not intended for bimetallic welds or other local stress conditions. When these conditions exist, the user must pursue
other evaluation approaches. Several are described below for bimetallic welds.
Secondary Stress Evaluation:
Secondary stresses are not separated from fatigue stresses in a typical B31 evaluation. ASME III Subsection NB and NH
make this separation and evaluate secondary stresses and fatigue stresses differently, and in a manner similar to ASME
Section VIII Division 2. These methods will be discussed in later examples along with the approaches for a detailed stress
analysis.
Fatigue Stress Evaluation:
The allowable stress using the B31.3 equation 1b is:
Allowable Stress = f[1.25(Sc+Sh) – SL] = (1.0){(1.25)[20000 + 7800] – 1004} = 33,746 psi

The ASME B31 Code Fatigue rules start at 7000 cycles. Applying Recommended Approach – 1, N-253-9 can be used. N-
253-9 Table B-2, for 304 SS gives a fatigue factor for piping analysis at 1000F of 50. For low alloy steels the fatigue factor
is 5. The fatigue factor is used in Table B-1 to determine the number of equivalent full temperature cycles. An “f” factor
equal to 0.3 is found from table B-1 for the 5000 cycle life requirement for the example problem. Table B-1 is reproduced
below:
For N = 5 from Table B-1: (411)(N) = (411)(5) = 2055 cycles, and (3125)(N) = 15,625 cycles. 5000 cycles is between
2005 and 15,625, and so the “f” factor from Table B-1 to be used in the B31 Code allowable equation is 0.3. (See table B-1
below.)
Figure 5 – Table B-1 From Nuclear Code Case N-253-9 Giving High Temperature Cyclic Reduction Factor
The allowable stress for the 2-1/4 Cr intersection per N-253 is taken from Equation 10-a:
Allowable Stress = f (1.25Sc + 0.25Sh) = (0.3)[ (1.25)(20000) + (0.25)(7800)] = 8,085 psi.
Using the high temperature reduction factor from N-391 the cyclic stress calculated above is excessive, i.e. 12,103 > 8,085
psi.
There is, however, a considerable difference in the allowables between the typical B31.3 approach and the high temperature
nuclear code case N-253-9 approach. It is desireable when this occurs to evaluate the stress state using other methods, and
to compare the results. There are three alternate approaches MatPRO can use to generate fatigue allowables at a given
elevated temperature: Markl, API 579 and ASME Section VIII Division 2.
The MatPRO results in the vicinity of 5000 cycles are shown in the plots below: Because MatPRO can plot fatigue curves
in the vicinity of the number of cycles of interest linear plots instead of logarithmic plots are used to get a better
understanding of the difference between the methods. The MatPRO high temperature fatigue curves for 2.25 Cr and 304SS
are shown below for 3000-to-9000 cycles.
Figure 6 – Linear Fatigue Curves for 2.25 Cr and 304 SS around 5000 cycles.
The input to generate this plot is shown below:

MatPRO’s high temperature option adjusts the fatigue life in a manner similar to the reduction used in ASME III
Subsection NH. With the reduced fatigue life, it can be seen that the 2.25 Cr material has an allowed alternating stress of at
least 27 ksi at 5000 cycles. This result compares much for favorably to the B31.3 allowable of 33,746 psi, rather than to the
N-253-9 allowable of 8,085 psi. The variation in linearly plotted stress results shown in Figure 6 should not be alarming.
When the cycle ranges are expanded and the curves plotted on a typical log-log plot, the differences get visually smaller,
and in fact this is one of the reasons that fatigue results and allowables should not be considered precise. The same plots
generated on a linear-linear and log-log plots are shown below for the range of cycles from 1 to 1,000,000.
The one-to-one comparisons to be made are:
B31.3 SE = ASME VIII Div.2 Pl+Pb+Q+F < f (1.25Sc + 0.25Sh) B31

< Safrom Div2 App5 ASME VIII Div 2
< CN-0.2 Markl
The plots in MatPRO can be generated on a “range” basis or on an “alternating” basis by adjusting the divisor. A value of
2. for the divisor (see inside the heavy black box in the above figure), is used for plots that are to be compared to B31 or
ASME Section VIII Division 2 alternating peak stress calculations.
Linear Endurance Curve Logarithmic Endurance Curve

Creep-Fatigue Interaction:
To perform a creep-fatigue interaction analysis, the creep life fraction and the fatigue life fraction must be plotted on the
creep-fatigue interaction envelope. The creep life fraction is the life allowed at the calculated stress, divided by the actual
life required. The fatigue life fraction is typically taken as the actual number of cycles divided by the allowed number of
cycles for the calculated stress. Where significant creep-fatigue occurs, PRG recommends finding the life fraction as the
calculated stress divided by the allowable stress.
The highest primary calculated stress (Pl) as shown above in the FE/Pipe report is 1,004 psi.
The allowed time before rupture for 2.25Cr pipe at 1000F for 300,000 hours and a stress of 1,004 psi can be determined by
MatPRO. The input to MatPRO and the curve for the vicinity of 1000degF for 2-1/4 Cr pipe is shown below. Average and
minimum values of the rupture strength are shown. The point picked from the minimum rupture curve shows that the time
to rupture at a stress of 1,004 psi and temperature of 1000F is in excess of 580 million hours.
Figure 8 – Average and Minimum Rupture Stress at 1000F vs. Time
The creep life fraction for this condition is: 300,000 / 580,000,000 = 0.0005.
To find the recommended, conservative fatigue life fraction, the calculated stress should be divided by the allowable. In
this case the fatigue life (stress) ratio would be 12,103 / 27,000 = 0.44. To summarize:
Creep Life Fraction = 0.0005

Fatigue Life Fraction (Stress Based) = 0.44
The creep-fatigue interaction diagram for a ductile weld and material from MatPRO is shown below:

The lower line is for 2.25 Cr. And the upper line in the plot is for 304. The red arrow points to the point on the curve
corresponding to the creep-fatigue interaction point, which is well within the interaction envelope.
The life fractions are low, but when welds are brittle in high temperature service, the creep-fatigue interaction is very
strong. MatPRO can be used to evaluate individual locations on the creep-fatigue interaction plot, or can be used to
generate a more detailed plot in the area of interest for the brittle 2.25 Cr weld. The 2.25 Cr and 304SS creep-fatigue
diagram for a brittle condition is shown below.
Since MatPRO includes the effect of temperature and total hold time in the fatigue life prediction it can be interesting to
plot the effect of temperature and life time on the fatigue curve for different materials. The fatigue curve for 2.25 Cr at
100,000 hours and 1000,1100,1200 and 1300 degrees F are shown below:
Figure 13 – MatPRO Effect of Temperature on Fatigue Strength at High Temperature and 100,000 hrs.
The limitation of the linear approach described above is that elastic follow-up is not considered. Enhanced creep ratcheting
can cause failures. Some examples are listed below:
1) Thermal transients at nozzles

2) Long runs of pipe terminating at nozzles or reductions in section
3) Local reductions in area in long runs of pipe, (reducers).
The linear ratcheting/secondary rules in ASME III Subsection NH tend to be extremely conservative because it is difficult
for a local elastic analysis of a high temperature component to determine if thermal loads and stresses are primary or
secondary. A nonlinear material analysis is required in this situation to determine if there is an adequate redistribution of

the loads and stresses. This condition is also true in low temperature applications where long, elastic pipes are attached to
sensitive nozzles. Even in this low/normal temperature situation a long, flexible elastic pipe can thermally act on the
component in a manner similar to a primary (non-self-limiting) load. This is particularly true when hot, long, rod or hanger
supported pipe enters a nozzle after snaking its way through a variety of flat turns. When thermal stresses at the nozzle due
to a piping configuration of this type are high, the user is cautioned that they may have characteristics of primary loads and
strains might be significantly higher than those predicted by an elastic analysis. The local analysis methods described
below help the user evaluate this condition.
B31 piping code rules do not directly address ratcheting or secondary stress conditions. These are only found in ASME
Section VIII Division 2, or in ASME Section III, Subsection NB.
Summary and Notes:
1) When the operating life in high temperature service is in excess of 100,000 hour, the creep rupture strength should be
checked at the design total life and the resulting allowables, if lower than Code recommended values, should be used in the
primary stress evaluation.
2) The sustained stress from a pipe stress program can be used in the creep evaluation. If sustained stresses are high, a shell
or brick finite element model solution can be used to reduce the conservatism in the beam approach. This method is
described in later examples.
3) Having the sustained stress from a beam analysis, MatPRO can be used to find the allowed time at the sustained stress
using the minimum creep rupture strength. The creep life fraction is t/T where “t” is the total design life and “T” is the
allowed time at the calculated sustained stress.
4) The peak stress from the operating or thermal analysis (whichever is higher), and MatPRO fatigue curves can be used to
find the allowed number of cycles at the calculated stress. MatPRO includes time and temperature effects for high
temperature service in a manner modeled after ASME Section III Subsection NH. The conservative fatigue life interaction
is s/S where “s” is the calculated stress and “S” is the allowable stress. The less conservative, but Code defined fatigue life
fraction is n/N where “n” is the design number of load cycles, and “N” is the allowed number of load cycles at the
calculated stress.
5) A creep-fatigue interaction diagram is generated by MatPRO that can be used to evaluate the interaction of primary and
peak stress states.
6) Secondary/primary ratcheting, (more a problem at creep temperatures), are not checked in a typical B31 analysis. It is
difficult to reasonably make these checks without an analysis including nonlinear material properties. Thermal transients,
local reductions in cross section, and long, elastic, piping systems with light horizontal supporting are classical conditions
where secondary/primary ratcheting can occur.
7) Stresses in certain local discontinuities are not evaluated using the above approach. An example for this problem is the
bimetallic weld shown in Figure 1. Methods for determining the stresses in these joints are discussed in further detail
below.
8) The approach described here does not include the effect of corrosion on stress. A system that undergoes cycling and
corrosion during its lifetime may experience an increase in both thermal and pressure stresses due to wall reduction. It is
conservative to use the corroded wall at the end of life for creep related pressure calculations, but refined calculation
approaches that incorporate the progressive change in stress due to corrosion can be found in API 530 Appendix B. In
some cases, thermal stresses in a system can be reduced as corrosion progresses because the pipe wall becomes more
flexible, but this effect is not considered.
Example 1 Questions and Answers:
1) In the FE/Pipe results shown in the output above, the secondary stress is the same as the peak stress – how is that
possible.
Answer: The secondary stress is the range of the beam stresses including discontinuities, but excluding concentrations. If
the concentration effect for the stress intensification factors produced by Markl can be taken as 2.0, then the alternating
component of the peak stress is:

Alternating Peak Stress Component = Secondary Stress Range * SCF / 2
If the SCF = 2 then the Alternating Peak Stress Component is EQUAL TO the secondary stress range, and this is what is
seen in the FE/Pipe results shown above.

4.2 Example Problem 2 – Detailed Local Elastic Finite Element Analysis
The same geometry used in Example 1 will be re-evaluated in this example. The intention is to remove the dependence of
the stress calculation on a stress intensification factor that must be used with a beam model to find discontinuity and peak
stresses. This approach is often used in several high temperature instances:
1) When B31 Appendix D stress intensification factors do not exist or will not be sufficiently accurate, for example at
bends with staunchions, or where a nozzle is in a vessel head, large D/T cylinder, or other geometrically
unavailable component.
2) When there is concern about elastic follow-up.
3) Where primary and cyclic stresses are high.
4) When a bimetallic weld is under bending or axial loads.
5) When thru wall thermal gradients exist through the wall of a component.
6) When cycling thermal flow state exists at a discontinuity such as an intersection, i.e. a hot flow through the nozzle
into a colder wall header cycles.
Bimetallic welds are special cases that are not described in B31 Appendix D, but are addressed in ASME III Subsection
NB, and in API 579 Part 10. Both of these approaches to the bimetallic weld problem are addressed below.
The user is encouraged to exercise caution when using the elastic rules when either:
1) Primary stresses are negligible

2) High temperature allowables are governed by creep rupture data
3) Thermal loads are applied by hot, relatively flexible pipework
The FE/Pipe detailed shell model of the example problem is shown below:
Figure 14 – Detailed Shell Model of Example Problem
The elastic shell results that will be used in the high temperature evaluation are the local primary membrane stress (Pl) and
the operating case secondary stress (Pl+Pb+Q). The Pl elastic stress is the averaged stress thru the thickness and so only a
single value exists at any point on the shell mesh. The Pl+Pb+Q elastic stress is the largest outer fiber stress and so inner
and outer values exist, and the largest must be checked. Plots of these two stresses for the intersection in the example
problem are shown below:

Pl = 3475 psi. Pl+Pb+Q = 17590 psi.
Figure 15 – Elastic Primary and Secondary Stresses in Detailed Model
Since the rupture stress at 300,000 hours is higher than the Code allowable, the Code allowable should be used in the
membrane stress evaluation since the lesser of the minimum rupture strength at temperature and the Code allowable should
be used for the primary stress allowables.
Pl < 1.5 Smh
3475 < (1.5)(7,800) = 11,700 psi.
The elastic peak stress amplitude (Pl+Pb+Q+F) from the local shell analysis is equivalent to the B31.3 Code Eq. 17:
SE = [(Sb2) + (4St2)]1/2 = Pl+Pb+Q+F
The peak stress amplitude from the pad reinforced tee in the example problem is given in the plot below:
Figure 16 – Elastic Alternating Peak Stress Intensity (Pl+Pb+Q+F)

The Pl+Pb+Q+F stress shown above is very close to the peak stress shown in Figure 2 from the beam model.
Pl+Pb+Q+F (shells) = 11,873 psi IS APPROXIMATELY EQUAL TO SE = 12,103 psi.
Pl+Pb+Q+F can be used to replace the Code stress used in Example 1 and the same procedure used in the evaluation.
One of the weaknesses of the beam approach described in Example 1 is that there was no ratcheting evaluation, and no way
in a linear elastic analysis to determine if elastic follow-up produces excessive creep strains. The ASME III Subsection NH
rules address this weakness and make very conservative assumptions to assure that elastic follow-up cannot occur. Because
these rules rely heavily on a manipulation of the material properties of the material, they are incorporated into MatPRO. To
perform a T-1300 Strain Limit Analysis, and a T-1400 Creep-Fatigue Analysis for a single point in the system, (such as the
highly stressed point in the tee shown in Figs. 15 and 16 above), the user must provide to MatPRO the following data:
1) Time at temperature (hrs) = 300,000 hrs

2) Temperature during the loading life. = 1000F
3) Tendency for the material to become embrittled due to exposure to high temperature = NO
4) If the evaluation is at a weld = YES
5) The Pl stress at the point = 3.475 ksi
6) The maximum Pl+Pb+Q stress at the point = 17.590 ksi
7) Number of cycles from ambient conditions to the time,temperature and stress given above = 5000
8) Fatigue curve to use (API 579, ASME, Markl) = ASME
9) ASME Material Designation = SA-335 P22 2-1/4Cr-1Mo Seamless Pipe
10) Inelastic operating strain if a nonlinear material analysis is performed = None
11) Region of the high temperature data to use, i.e. median, lower or upper portions of the data. = Median
12) Stress Concentration Factor at the point of interest (SCF) = 1.35
ASME III NH Appendix T Rule Summary:
For T-1300 Deformation and Strain Limits there are a series of tests:
Elastic Analysis Rules: T-1320 – is satisfied if any one of T-1322, T-1323 or T-1324 are satisfied. MatPRO checks
each limit, and if any one of the three is satisfied during the check, further checks are skipped and the evaluation
proceeds to the creep-fatigue interaction section.
T-1322 No. A-1 – X + Y < Sa/Sy … primary + secondary limit

T-1323 No. A-2 – X + Y < 1.0 … primary + secondary limit
T-1324 No. A-3 – Σ(ti/tid) < 0.1 … creep life fraction limit (only satisfied when high temperature duration is
short.)
Where:
X = (PL + Pb/Kt)/Sy … primary stress ratio
Y = QR/Sy … secondary stress ratio
Sa = the lesser of SR (SR*R in a weld) and Sy (average)
Sy = 0.5*(SyH + SyL), subscripts “L” and “H” refer to the yield stress at minimum and maximum values
of the temperature range, respectively.
Note that the common denominator of these quantities shows is the yield stress. The MatPRO NH report simplifies
these tests as follows:
T-1322 No. A-1 – PL+PB+Q < Sa (confirm whether MatPRO to perform this test!!)
T-1323 No. A-2 – PL+PB+Q < Sy
T-1324 No. A-3 – Σ (ti/tid) < 0.1
For most of the geometries addressed by FE/Pipe, Pb does not exist (bending is considered secondary). By definition
QR = [(PL+PB+Q)OPE – PL– PB]. Thus,
Sy*(X+Y) = ( [PL+PB/KT] + [(PL+PB+Q)OPE – PL – PB)] ) = [(PL+PB+Q)OPE – PB(1-1/KT)]

…Thus when bending is secondary as in “most” FE/Pipe geometries, Pb = 0 and the expressions reduce to
Sy*(X+Y) = (PL+PB+Q)OPE and Sy*(X) = PL
Note: The designer must verify that the PL+PB+Q value used in this analysis is obtained from the FE/Pipe operating
load case, and not range load cases.
Inelastic Analysis Rules: T-1330 – is satisfied if either T-1332 B-1 or T-1332 B-2 is satisfied. B-1 is used for general
structures where the peak through-the-all thermal stress is negligible. B-2 which is more conservative, is applicable to
any structure and loading.
T-1332 B-1 σc = (ZT-1332-1)(Syl). Strain due to σc through loading life must be less than 1% for parent metal and
0.5% for welds.
T-1332 B-2 σc = (ZT-1332-2)(Syl). Strain due to σc through loading life must be less than 1% for parent metal and
0.5% for welds.
For T-1400 Creep-Fatigue Evaluation – the following limits are checked.
1) t/T < 1 … life at primary stress divided by allowed life at stress

2) n/N < 1 … cycles at cyclic stress divided by allowed number of cycles.
3) s/S < 1 … cyclic stress divided by cyclic stress allowable.
4) t/T + n/N < E … sum of life cycle ratios must be less than the Envelope value for the material
5) t/T + s/S < E … sum of stress ratio plus creep life ratio must be less than the Envelope (Conservative PRG
approach)
Since the NH approach permits inelastic analysis to be performed, the strain limits of T-1300 are checked against nonlinear
strains entered. These are computed in FE/Pipe by entering a plasochronous stress strain curve, and then entering the sum
of the plastic and elastic strains into MatPRO. (See input data cells below.)
For this example and stress state the inelastic operating strain is not available and won’t be entered. The other data needed
is self explanatory and is made clearer via the MatPRO interface. The MatPRO input and output screen is shown below:
The MatPRO evaluation makes T-1300 checks for deformation limits and T-1400 checks for creep-fatigue interaction.
The T-1320 limits involve restrictions based principally on yield strength and high temperature properties. The T-1330
simplified inelastic checks are based on ratcheting style diagrams and isochronous stress-strain curve predictions of creep
strains.
The T-1400 limits on creep-fatigue interaction are based principally on the equation:

t/T + n/N < D

where:
t = time at primary load

T = allowed time at primary load
n = design number of cycles
N = allowed number of cycles at design load
D = Creep-fatigue Design Total Life fraction (from Fig. T-1420-2)
t/T = Creep Life Fraction
n/N = Fatigue Life Fraction
A less conservative interaction equation (recommended by PRG) is also included in the calculation:
t/T + s/S < D

where:
s = Calculated Peak Stress

S = Peak Stress Allowable
The ASME III NH full report for the geometry above is listed below.
MatPRO ASME III Subsection NH Report: (Comments and key output highlighted)
ASME III NH T-1300 Deformation and Strain Limits

ASME III NH T-1400 Creep-Fatigue Evaluation
------------------------------------------------
The following implementation is a simplified approximation

of the method used in ASME III NH. Users should be sure that
the simplifications used are sufficiently representative of
the actual problem loadings and stresses.
Max Stress at Tee Junction
Material = SA-335 P22 2-1/4Cr-1Mo Seamless Pipe
Hours (hold time) at Elevated Temperature = 300000.0

Elevated Temperature at most of Cycle (degF) = 1000.000
Operating Elastic Stress Intensity Range (ksi) = 17.59000
Use Median of Creep Material Scatter Band

Brittle Measure = -0.3000000 (+0.3-Brittle -0.3-Ductile)
Number of Creep-Fatigue Interaction Cycles = 5000.000

Constant Primary Membrane Stress (Pl)(ksi) = 3.475000
Operating Inelastic Strain per Cycle (in/in) = 0.0000000E+00
Location of Stress/Strain Evaluation = WELD
Fatigue Curve for Room Temperature Properties = ASME Div 2
Stress Concentration Factor (SCF) = 1.350000
Room Temperature Elastic Modulus (ksi) = 30600.00

Elevated Temperature Elastic Modulus (ksi) = 24600.00
Room Temperature Yield Stress (ksi) = 30.00000
Elevated Temperature Yield Stress (ksi) = 20.17650
Room Temperature Tensile Stress (ksi) = 60.00000
Elevated Temperature Tensile Stress (ksi) = 37.67387
Average Modulus during Strain Cycling (ksi) = 27600.00

Room Temperature Allowable Stress (ksi) = 17.10000
Elevated Temperature Allowable Stress (ksi) = 8.000000
Creep Rupture Properties at Time and Temperature:

Minimum Creep Rupture Strength (ksi) = 7.500000
Larson-Miller Parameter = 37.19660 … echo of input and material data look ups.
T-1322 Tests A1 and A2
T-1322 or T-1323 Have been satisfied.

Pl+Pb+Q(max) is less than Sy(avg)
Pl+Pb+Q(max) (ksi) = 17.59000

Sy(avg)(ksi) = 25.08825 … Pl+Pb+Q < Sy is T-1322/T-1323 ratcheting check

No further strain limit checks are required. … only have to satisfy strain limits once – move on
to creep-fatigue interaction
Calculated Cyclic Stress-Range is LESS THAN the
Stress-Range allowed including creep-fatigue
interaction effects - OK.
Calculated Alternating Peak Stress = 11.87325 … peak stress (fatigue) component of life is OK
Allowable Alternating Peak Stress = 27.40666
Stress Based Percent of Allowable = 43.32251 %
Calculated Cyclic Strain-Range is LESS THAN the

Strain-Range allowed including creep-fatigue
Calculated Cyclic Strain Range = 7.1504066E-04 … strain range (fatigue) component of life is OK
Allowable Cyclic Strain Range = 1.9878286E-03
No. of Cycles Evaluated = 5000.000
Cyclic Stress Range Allowed (ksi) = 54.86407
Design Cycles are LESS THAN Allowed Cycles - OK
Percent Fatigue Life Used This Load Case = 2.944117 % … cycle life (fatigue) evaluation is OK
Conservative Fatigue Life Used This Case = 36.00425 %
Design Number of Cycles = 5000.000
Allowed Number of Cycles = 169830.2
Allowed Creep Life from Membrane Stress (Pl,hrs) = 7.2981320E+07

Creep Design Life (hrs) = 300000.0
Creep Life Fraction LESS THAN 1.0 - OK

Creep Life Fraction = 4.1106408E-03 … creep life fraction is small and OK
Total Life Fraction LESS THAN Allowable - OK
Total Life Fraction = 3.3551808E-02
Conservative Creep-Fatigue Life Fraction LESS THAN Allowable - OK

Conservative Creep-Fatigue Life Fraction = 0.3610341 …conservatively calculated creep-fatigue
interaction is OK.
Bimetallic Weld
The primary, secondary and alternating peak stresses in a bimetallic weld are calculated accurately using shell finite
elements. The stresses from these calculations are given below.
Pl+Pb+Q+F Pl+Pb+Q Pl

Figure 17 – Elastic Stresses in Bimetallic Welds
MatPRO can be run using the stresses calculated above and the weakest material at the joint, (in this case the 2.25 Cr.)
Significant parts of the MatPRO ASME III Subsection NH output for this bimetallic joint are shown below. The stresses in
the bimetallic weld are higher than in the tee analyzed above. These higher stresses cause some of the most conservative
checks in ASME III NH to fail, but later strain limit checks are passed. This means that T-1300 is satisfied.
ASME III NH T-1300 Deformation and Strain Limits

ASME III NH T-1400 Creep-Fatigue Evaluation
------------------------------------------------
Bimetallic Weld Elastic Stresses
T-1322 Tests A1 and A2
T-1322 and T-1323 are NOT satisfied. …. Yield based test NOT Satisfied – continue to next test
Pl+Pb+Q(max) must be less than Sy(avg)
Pl+Pb+Q(max) (ksi) = 32.01900
Sy(avg)(ksi) = 25.08825
T-1324 Test A3
T-1324 (a) Can NOT be Satisfied. … Time restriction test NOT satisfied – continue to next test
T-1324(a) Requirement: ti/tid <= 0.1
ti (hrs) = 300000.0
tid (hrs) = 46.12339
ti/tid = 6504.292
NH T-1320 Strain Limits could NOT be satisfied using elastic

analysis. Proceeding with T-1330 Simplified Inelastic
analysis using elastic results. The strain limits at the
surface per T-1310 (b), due to an equivalent linear
distribution of strain is 2% away from welds and 1% at welds.
T-1330 Satisfaction of Strain Limits Using

Simplified Inelastic Analysis (Modified)
X (Primary Stress Parameter) = 8.3266065E-02

Y (Secondary Stress Parameter) = 1.276255
Z (Effective Creep Stress Parameter) = 0.1062687
Creep Stress (ksi) (Z)(SyL)(1.25) = 3.985077 … found from III NH Fig. T-1332-1
Creep Strain (in/in) = 1.6310521E-04
T-1322-1 Strain Limit SATISFIED in Weld Area …Ratcheting Creep Stress Strain Requirement Satisfied
Strain less than 1.0%, Strain = 1.6310521E-04
Creep Stress (ksi) = 3.985077
No further strain limit checks are required. … Strain limits are OK – go on to creep-fatigue interaction.
Calculated Cyclic Stress-Range is LESS THAN the
Stress-Range allowed including creep-fatigue
Calculated Cyclic Stress Range = 32.01900

Allowable Cyclic Strain Range = 54.86407
Stress Based Percent of Allowable = 58.36060 % … fatigue stress range calculation OK
Calculated Cyclic Strain-Range is LESS THAN the
Strain-Range allowed including creep-fatigue
Calculated Cyclic Strain Range = 1.1601087E-03 … fatigue strain range check is OK

Allowable Cyclic Strain Range = 1.9878286E-03
No. of Cycles Evaluated = 5000.000
Cyclic Stress Range Allowed (ksi) = 54.86407
Design Cycles are LESS THAN Allowed Cycles - OK
Percent Fatigue Life Used This Load Case = 18.31766 %

Design Number of Cycles = 5000.000
Allowed Number of Cycles = 27296.06 … cycle life check is OK
Allowed Creep Life from Membrane Stress (Pl,hrs) = 3.8715046E+08
Creep Design Life (hrs) = 300000.0

Creep Life Fraction LESS THAN 1.0 - OK
Creep Life Fraction = 7.7489257E-04 … creep life fraction is OK
Total Life Fraction LESS THAN Allowable - OK
Total Life Fraction = 0.1839515 … Creep-Fatigue Interaction is OK
Hand Calculations for Pressure and Thermal Stresses in Bimetallic Welds
Bimetallic Welds can also be checked using a variation of the hand method reported in API 579 Part 10.
For the bimetallic weld in this example:
Do = 4.5
Dm = (4.5 – 0.25 ) = 4.25
T = 0.25 * 0.875 = 0.21875
PD/2t = (235)(4.25)/[(2)(0.21875)] = 2282.8 psi.
Using a form of the method suggested in API 579 Part 10, but modified by PRG to address a variety of Code materials, the
allowable creep stress for the bimetallic weld is given by:
Bimetallic Weld Creep Allowable Stress = (0.1)(SA)[(t)(10β)]-0.37
Where SA = Allowable From B31.3 Equation 1a (psi) [33,746 psi]

t = total time at temperature (hr)
β = 13.26 – 31032 / ((To+460)
To = Operating Temperature (degF)
The stress in the bimetallic weld to be compared to the above allowable is found from:
Stress = Pl+Pb+Q = E∆α(To-70)/2
Where E = Average modulus of elasticity between the connecting members at temperature (psi)
∆α = Difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the connecting members (base material)
Solving for β in the allowable stress equation:
β = 13.26 – 31032 / ((T+460) = -7.9948
The creep stress allowable for the 2-1/4 Cr pipe at 1000 degF and 300,000 hrs. is:
(0.1)(33,746)[(300,000)(10-7.9948)]-0.37 = 28,824 psi.
The calculated stress in the bimetallic weld from the above equation for stress is:
(27,600,000)(10.29-7.97)(10-6)(1000-70)/2 = 29,774 psi.
Note how this stress compares to the shell Pl+Pb+Q solution of 32,019 psi.
The hand calculation shows that the bi-metallic weld exceeds the allowable stress. The ASME III NH approach shows that
the allowed stress at the weld is 58% of the allowable. It is likely that the ASME III NH approach is valid since it was
developed to be conservative when elastic analysis is used, additionally, this bimetallic weld is not particularly susceptible
to creep conditions since the primary (pressure) stresses are low. (Compared to furnace tubes, for example, where the
primary pressure stresses are high.)
The hand calculation for the bimetallic weld given in Recommended Approach – 3a can also be employed:
ε1 = ∆αT = (10.29-7.97)(10-6)(1000-70) = 0.0021576

D = Et3 / [(12)(1-v2)] = (27,600,000)(0.25)3 / [(12)(1-0.32)] = 39,491 in.lb.

R = mean radius of pipe = ( 4.5 – 0.25 ) / 2 = 2.125
λ = [ (3)(1-v2) / (R2T2) ] 1/4 = {(3)(1-0.32) / [(2.1252)(0.252)]}1/4 = 1.763
M = 2R∆αTDλ2 = (2)(2.125)(10.29-7.97)(10-6)(1000-70)(39,491)(1.7632) = 1125 in.lb./in.
ε2 = 6M/Et2 = (6)(1125) / [(27,600,000)(0.252)] = 0.003915 in/in.
ε = 2/3 [ (ε12 + ε22 + ε1ε2 ) 1/2 = (2/3)[(0.00215762) + (0.0039152) + (0.0021576)(0.003915) ] 1/2 = 0.003555 in/in.
ε = 0.003555 < 0.01 … so the thermal strain limit of Recommended Approach – 3a is satisfied.
For heater tubes, or other components where significant pressure or other sustained loads can exist at bimetallic welds the
allowable fraction combinations recommended in approach 3a should be performed.
Each component in the system with high stresses should be evaluated using a similar philosophy.
4.3 Example Problem 3 – Detailed Local Inelastic Finite Element Analysis
The same geometry used in Examples 1 and 2 will be re-evaluated in this example, but in this case the process engineer
wants to increase the temperature from 1000F to 1150F and would like to know if the small 150degF increase will have an
effect on the piping system.
The earlier plot of yield and rupture strengths created by MatPRO helps provide the answer.
Figure 18 – Comparison of Yield and Rupture Strengths
At 1000 degF the yield strength of 304 and the rupture strength of 2-1/4 Cr are about the same, and so the allowables for
each material was the same. As the temperature increases to 1150degF, Figure 18 shows that the rupture strength of 304SS
does not decrease much, while the rupture strength of 2-1/4 Cr decreases from 7,800 psi to about 2,500 psi. There will
be a small change in thermal stress due to the 150 degF temperature change, but there will be a large
change in the primary stress allowable for the 2-1/4 Cr material. The fatigue strength will be slightly
reduced. Primary stresses were not significant at 1000F, but at the higher temperature primary
stresses will play more of a role and the effect of elastic follow-up at places where it is known to occur,
i.e. at intersections, will be evaluated. Only a nonlinear analysis can make this determination. The first
step in evaluating the 1150 degF system is to increase the temperature in the model from 1000 to 1150 degF. The stress
increase in the elastic model will be linear and equal to:
Linear system stress increase = [(1150-70) / (1000-70) ] = 1.16

Which is approximately the stress increase shown below since the thermal stress is the major contribution of the operating
range stresses.
Pl = 3,475 psi Pl+Pb+Q = 19,562 psi Pl+Pb+Q+F = 13,204 psi
Figure 19 – Elastic Stresses in Intersection, Temperature = 1150 degF
The comparison of the elastic stresses in the intersection at 1000F and 1150F are shown below:
Stress Stress Intensity at 1000degF Stress Intensity at 1150 degF

Pl 3,475 psi 3,475 psi
Pl+Pb+Q 17,590 psi 19,562 psi
Pl+Pb+Q+F 11,873 psi 13,204 psi
The new Pl+Pb+Q stresses will be entered in MatPRO to produce an updated ASME III NH report, but since the creep
stress governs the allowable the PRG recommendation to perform an inelastic analysis will be followed and the inelastic
strain will be computed and included in the MatPRO calculation.
The steps in performing a nonlinear analysis are:
1) Run the elastic analysis and get an idea of where the high stress, large stress area sections in the model are located.
2) Generate a plasochronous stress/strain curve (using MatPRO) so that an idea of where in the load case the material
will begin to undergo creep-plastic strains. If the material stress is below creep-plasticity yield point then no
further analysis is required. Plasochronous stress-strain curves for the 2-1/4 Cr and SS materials used in the
example problem are shown below.

The Plasochronous stress strain curve must be entered into FE/Pipe as a bilinear curve. Several bilinear curves are
suggested for the user to choose from. For the curves shown above, the Best-Fit bilinear curves are probably the
best to use.
The bilinear material properties to be used in the FE/Pipe conservative plasticity calculation are given below, and
are taken from the above curves using the initial modulus, least error method.
2-1/4 Cr E=24.6E6 psi. Sy=11,707 psi. Et=62,896 psi.

304SS E=22.8E6 psi. Sy=14,876 ksi, Et=259,000 psi.
3) Depending on the FE/Pipe template used, either node numbers or property id’s are used to identify the material
and plastic/creep properties. The most general method is to identify property id’s and that will be demonstrated
further below. To use property id’s, the property’s in the model must be identified. Because many FE/Pipe
models include other models into a single parent, the propery id’s used in the final analysis are only available after
the model has been included in the final model ready for evaluation.
Property id’s can have many values starting around unity and increasing. Some templates assign a unique value
for each element, and others assign them on a model basis. Nozshell and Symmetric allow specification on a node,
parent, or material property id basis. Modgen can be used after a parent/child geometry has been assembled to
view the property id’s in the currently displayed sections. The modgen commands that can best be used to
interrogate the model are:
SHOW_PROP_MIN_MAX … used to display the property id’s for elements in the display list
PAN,(1=X 2=Y), % of screen space … moves the model around on the screen a certain amount
LABEL,SURFACE,ON
DRAW, SURFACE, <n1>, <n2>
CLIP,(on/off) … cuts away elements that are not in the viewport.
REF_DRAW, ELEMENTS, SURFACE, <s1>, <s2>
VIEW,FIND
PLOT
The SHOW_PROP_MIN_MAX command tells the user the maximum and minimum property ids in the model
displayed. The pan and clip commands are used to clip-off portions of the model the user is not interested in. The
DRAW,SURFACE and REF_DRAW commands are used to draw elements only associated with particular
surfaces.
These commands are only needed if there is more than one material or plasochronous stress-strain curve to be used
in the model, as is the case when there is a bimetallic weld. The pan, label, draw, clip, ref_draw, view, and plot
commands are used to get the portion of the geometry whose property id’s are to be identified in the drawing
window, then the SHOW_PROP_MIN_MAX command tells the user what property id ranges exist for the viewed
elements. The user with more than one material in the model must experiment with these commands to determine
which property ids apply to which parts of the model.
Once the property id’s are identified using the above commands, the plasochronous stress strain curves must be
entered into FE/Pipe. The creep-plastic data is added under the “Plastic Flow” button in the Nozzles-Plates-Shells
template. An example is shown below:

The creep-plasticity “yield” value, “E” and “Et” are found from MatPRO. The ultimate tensile strength value (Su)
is not used at this time. Multiple temperatures can be entered and FE/Pipe will find the plasochronous curve values
that best suit the current element integration point temperature. If only a single temperature value is entered, then
it will be used regardless of the individual element temperature. Temperatures and plasticity effects are calculated
for each gauss point in the element.
4) Once the creep/plastic properties are entered the plastic iteration control must be specified. There are many
options, but only the conservative plasticity is suggested for creep-plastic strain calculations. The setup for a
standard conservative plastic solution is shown below:
The material load case should be that case that contains each load contribution to be included in the nonlinear
solution. The collapse factor should be 0-zero for a full Newton Raphson iteration. The convergence tolerance
should be set to 2% and the number of iterations set to 20. Be sure that the restart checkbox is UNCHECKED.
The load case factor is 1. Conservative plastic solutions do not have to be load stepped.
5) Run the analysis. When the analysis has completed enter the plotted output. The first step is displacement
verification. The user should thoroughly inspect the displacements for the nonlinear load case. Other load cases in
a nonlinear run have no meaning. Be sure that local effects in the areas of interest make sense and would not be
considered excessive distortion. Gross displacements in any part of the system indicate a nonconverged or
incorrectly converged solution. Once the displacements are validated select generate plastic 3d output under the
Misc menu. This will drop the user into the 3d viewer and make several plasticity plots available for viewing.
Zoom in on the model area of interest and clip away other areas. Record values for the elastic and plastic strains.
Sum these values and enter them into the MatPRO ASME III NH report window along with the elastically
calculated stress values. For the example problem these steps are illustrated below.

Deflections for the nonlinear load case 4 are shown, and look reasonable. There is no noticeable boundary condition effects
and displacements are controlled by thermal strain not excessive plastic deformation, as we expect for a typical PVP
geometry.
To evaluate the strains and nonlinear solution properties, the user should request 3dViewer Plasticity as shown from the
menu below:
When the 3dViewer appears the dataset the user wishes to review should be selected. The available plastic data to be
displayed is shown in the figure below. Notice that for shell elements plasticity data exists for the inside and outside
surfaces of the element, while for all other element types, the plasticity data is nodal. Searching for maximums the user
must check both the inside and outside surface plastic values and use the highest.
The user should zoom in on the area of interest and clip off the remainder of the model. Since this stress analysis is focused
on the intersection only that portion of the model is shown below. The highest plastic equivalent strain is plotted.

The highest elastic strain in the same area can be found:
Even though these peaks may not be at exactly the same node, they are close enough, and the total strain for the intersection
is found by summing the two values:
Total Equivalent Strain = 0.000275 + 0.001711 = 0.001986 = 0.1986% strain
There is a stressed area in the intersection that did not converge to 2% as set in the plasticity input.
This local lack of convergence is due to the poor element shape and is not thought to have disturbed
the solution. The user should adjust the meshes for models to undergo plastic solutions carefully, and
do as good a job as possible to produce equal side, square elements.
The program PLASPLOT.EXE displays to the user during the solution, and after the solution has completed how certain
maximum quantities changed during the incremental iterations. A typical plastic convergence plot is shown below.

Nonconverged solutions show this curve in a reversed direction. Instead of starting high, and reducing to a constant value,
the curves stay high, or increase without bound.
The largest plastic strain curve is the most important. When this curve stabilizes and does not continue to increase or
change, the solution can be considered to have converged. An asymptotically increasing plastic strain curve that has
reasonably converged is shown below:
The largest elastic curve should remain fairly straight during increased iterations or have a slightly upward slope as shown
below. For conservative plasticity the curve should not be “rough” or have “jagged” edges.

Now that the total strain is calculated, MatPRO can be rerun with the updated elastic stresses and the actual total strain and
the ASME III NH evaluation of the stress state remade. The MatPRO input and results screen is shown below:
As can be seen, the creep life fraction is exceeded, and the fatigue life fraction is exceeded. The increase in temperature to
1150F is not recommended. MatPRO can easily be used to determine the allowed time and number of cycles that would be
allowable. For the increased temperature 20,000 hrs. and 100 cycles are acceptable as shown in the MatPRO report below.
These models, with an improved mesh are included in the installation folder under models\creep_plastic\.
If plastic solutions do not converge the user may:
1) Reduce the load step.

2) Check where the nonconvergence is occurring. It may not be in a part of the model that is of concern.
3) Improve the mesh where the solution is not converging. Poorly shaped elements will contribute to iteration.
4) If the solution is not converging, but the answer does not change, then the solution may be correct. Only a small
part of the model having trouble will not effect other parts of the model.
5) Remove areas of plasticity that are not needed. For thermal problems in particular where strains are high, but self
limiting, it is conservative to consider plasticity in critical parts of the model only providing the solution is not
indeterminate based on plastic hinges formed.
6) Switch to initial stiffness solution. It will take longer but is generally a more divergent approach.

5 High Temperature Evaluations
High Temperature is that temperature where creep effects contribute to the material behavior and is often, but not always, a
complex function of time, temperature, material composition and stress state.
There are a variety of high temperature material approaches that can be taken. Evaluations performed in league with
material tests after the system has been in service for a period of time provide the greatest degree of confidence in the
solution, but at the design stage, or where material testing cannot be performed, analysts must be sure that the methods used
are suitable for the problem under study, or, where simplified methods are used, a sufficient safety factor must be provided.
For example, stress analysis can not be used to determine if a material will become brittle over time at a given temperature.
Should embrittlement of the material occur as detected by a metalurgist, approaches outlined in API 579 will likely give a
more useful evaluation of component life than simplified stress analysis rules based on 100,000 hours of service.
Several analytical and test methods are described below:
Analytical
1) Linear elastic primary load stress analysis per ASME Section VIII Division 1, or B31 Piping Codes
2) Linear elastic analysis per ASME Section III NC/ND …
3) Linear elastic primary load stress analysis per ASME Section III Part NH
4) Linear elastic creep-fatigue interaction per ASME Section III Part NH
5) Linear elastic ratcheting interaction per ASME Section III Part NH
6) API 530 Calculation of Heater Tube Thickness in Petroleum Refineries
7) API 579 Fittness for Service High Temperature Rules
Test
1) Replication
2) Creep Rate (Omega Testing – API 579)
Testing
Replication involves a relatively simple procedure of polishing the surface and using a solution of vinyl acetate to form a
thin layered “mold” of the surface. This mold can be viewed under an optical microscope and grain boundary degradation
due to creep evaluated (although electron microscopes are much better suited). The surface must be room temperature and
available. Replicas are typically taken over areas less than one square inch, and so locations of high creep stress must be
known. It is difficult, but not impossible to take replica’s of as-welded junctions, although more surface preparation is
required.
Creep rate testing is a recent approach used where a small sample of material is subject to a short term load-temperature
test. The rate of creep is indicative of the degree of degradation. This method requires a small destructive sample of
material that has undergone the same stress and temperature service life, and is not well suited for stress states that vary
strongly through the sample size breadth or thickness.
Analysis
The linear elastic primary load stress analysis methods of ASME Section VIII Division 1, or the B31 Piping Codes have
been used successfully for many years for both pressure, weight and temperature design of high temperature piping and
vessel systems in petrochemical and fossil power service. These rules function more effectively when there is no creep-
fatigue interaction, or when there are no other significant transient conditions that will introduce high levels of stress into
pressure containing pipes, vessels or supports.
Where high levels of transient stresses or other significant cyclic stresses are to be considered in a pressure containing pipe
or vessel, more sophisticated rules, that perhaps lack any significant improvement in predictive ability, should likely be
used in the hope that safety is gained without the cost of excessive conservatism. Creep and creep-fatigue interaction in all
but the simplest of loading conditions is very complex and difficult to evaluate. When complex load cases and histories, are
combined with material property degradation, the resulting problem can be virtually impossible to evaluate with any great
degree of accuracy.

Where complex loading histories are involved, one must not be misled into thinking that a successful design life is the
result of a highly accurate analysis. More than likely operating success is due to a combination of:
1) Experience in design, support and fabrication.

2) The fact that high stresses due to various loadings occur at different points in the geometry,
3) The fact that simplified ratcheting rules do a surprisingly good job of limiting creep growth due to high stresses
that are at least in some manner strain limited, and
4) Sufficient safety factors applied to present analytical solutions.
Exceptions exist for furnace tubes and API 530 approaches, which have been tuned through many years of service, and API
579 rules when used with a proper metallurgical evaluation, good primary stress support, and fairly benign transient loading
conditions. B31.1 and ASME Section VIII Division 1 rules are well suited for simplified loading conditions and stress
states that are not accompanied by large numbers of significant stress cycles.
Fortunately, the majority of high temperature evaluations involve systems that do not cycle, and that are not exposed to
thermal shocks or transients. In these cases, the entire high temperature requirement is satisfied by properly accounting for
pressure, weight and metallurgy, (the latter of which, is not typically within the stress analyst’s domain.)
When pressurized and heated systems do not suffer significant cycles of any kind, thermal stresses are generally dealt with
by making sure that the system is sufficiently flexible, following either the B31.3 or B31.1 code rules, or experience, and
properly supported. Pressure and weight stresses in furnace tubes are dealt with by applying API 530 rules to the relatively
simple pressurized stress state, or by the use of simplified B31 rules for piping. When conditions exist whereby high local
primary and secondary stresses exist in a high temperature pressure vessel or piping system, simplified evaluations can be
performed to attempt to estimate the degree of damage due to creep strains. These simplified evaluations take the form of
comprehensive elastic Code rules (ASME III NH), or the use of isochronous stress-strain curves. API 579 has introduced
data and a methodology to produce isochronous stress-strain curves for twenty-two different materials commonly found in
high temperature service.
5.1 Notes from “Developments in Elevated Temperature Structural Design Criteria,” by Mr. Fred
Snow and M.T. Jakub.
In the early 1970’s experimental data became available which showed that hold times (at one end of the strain cycle) caused
a dramatic decrease in the cycle life.
When a pressure containing component is in elevated temperature service, the analyst should realize that when the
maximum design load is based on a short term primary loading, creep range short term allowables can be used. The hot
temperature, creep allowables should only be used for long term, primary loads. This minimizes the need to provide thicker
walls for short term pressure events, that would introduce more problems for transient thermal events.
… creep flow is proportional to the stress level raised to a power greater than one.
Thermal creep can remove a favorable residual stress, thus causing plastic ratcheting to occur at load ranges much below
the ratchet threshold in the non-creep domain.
The first significant aspect of the primary plus secondary stress limits in … is that they are not mandatory. They are
optional. If the owner approves, the designer (subjectto Regulatory approval) may use alternative rules. This recognizes the
fact that the primary plus secondary and primary plus secondary plus peak stress limits are not mature. Other limits may be
appropriate in certain circumstances, especially in cases where subsequent experimental data support their application.
If elastic analysis was used, the … criteria required that a 1 percent strain be assumed in the worst possible manner,
consistent with the loads of service. For example, if two concentric rings must remain apart for functional reasons, the
structural analyst would assume that the outer ring shrinks by 1 percent and the inner one expands by 1 percent when loads
exist which could cause strains in those directions.

Based on the experimental observations of … it was apparent that fatigue at temperatures where creep occurs was more
complex and design limiting than at noncreep temperatures. The hold periods at one or both ends of the strain cycle caused
a reduction in the number of cycles to failure. … Linear damage summations were used in each term [of the creep-fatigue
interaction equation] and the synergistic effect is described by the interaction limit, D. Fatigue tests of 304SS that
incorporate hold periods at the maximum tensile strain extreme of the cycle produced significantly greater loss of cyclic life
than did hold periods at the compressive end of the cycle. Fatigue tests of 304SS that used hold periods at both ends of the
cycle resulted in higher cyclic lives than in the tension-hold only tests. The design limit was based on the “worst” type of
cycle, and for 304SS, that was a cycle having a hold period in tension.
Snow: “It was recognized that welds have different mechanical properties than parent metal and usually have lower
ductility. While the weld process qualification bend tests assure sufficient plastic ductility for low temperature service, they
do not assure adequacy for elevated temperature operation. It was also recognized that the as fabricated stress state of
welded components is often extremely complex. Certainly, there is a significant variation in material properties across a
weldment and through a weldment. It did not seem feasible to analytically model the material property variations, the
geometric imperfections, and the initial stress state of welds and then inelastically determine their response. One also would
want to keep welds out of highly stressed areas of components if possible. Thus, it was decided to use a 0.5 percent
membrane strain limit for weld areas… This limit was intended to be used with inelastic analysis where the weld was
modeled with parent metal properties.”
Snow: “How to determine when elastic follow-up requires that nominally secondary stresses be treated as primary. That
problem remains unaddressed by the current rules and is a significant cause of the use of inelastic analysis.”
Ratcheting rules are used when there are varying loads superimposed on non-varying loads. This type of loading can occur
when a thermal transient is superimposed on a constant pressure state, or when a thermal transient is superimposed on a
constant temperature state. When the system under study does not cycle, it is common to ignore any potential for ratcheting.
A combination of secondary and primary loads at a bimetallic junction or some nozzle intersections subject to large,
thermal external moments are difficult to analyze using linear elastic rules because large thermal stresses can be calculated
elastically that are secondary and self-relieve after only small amounts of creep straining. In this case, when a cyclic
evaluation is not required, the plasochronous stress strain curves can be used to determine the total creep strain anticipated
due to pressure and thermal stresses. The use of plasochronous stress-strain curves in this case allows for the relief of high
secondary stresses without the conservative elastic penalty required. (Secondary stresses may cause elastic follow-up in
high temperature applications, and so the strain limiting nature of the stresses cannot be fully taken advantage of in an
elastic analysis.)
The user is not recommended to use these local, high stress locations for omega testing since the most significant damage
will be due to very local bending or concentration strains and will more likely be the source of a flaw site, that, when
coupled with an embrittled microstructure at the weld would contribute to fracture in the bimetallic area. Replication at the
area of highest stress is likely a more suitable test for damage. If after more than one-half of the product life has been
exhausted and multiple cavities of character greater than 1.5 microns oriented such that their longer axis is circumferential
with respect to the pipe are not found, then one can consider that the component is suited for continued life.
When evaluating any existing system, the possibility of deterioration of the material in service, in particular of
embrittlement of the welds must be considered and should be evaluated by a metallurgist. API 579 provides an adjustment
to the rupture life and creep properties for embrittlement, and embrittled materials might become candidates for a fracture
analysis.
5.2 Excerpts from ASME Division 1 Subsection NH Class 1 Components in Elevated

Temperatrure Service
NH-3112.2 c) Elevated temperature mechanical properties are extremely sensitive to temperature. The Design
Specifications shall specify any inaccuracies in temperature measurement and prediction that are to be considered in the
design analyses made to show compliance with the limits of NH-3200.

NH-3113.3 Level A Service Loadings. Level A Service Loadings are any loadings arising from system startup, operation in
the design power range, hot standby, and system shut-down, .and excepting only those loadings covered by Levels B, C and
D Service Loadings or Test Loading.
NH-3113.4 Level B Service Loadings. (From incidents of moderate frequency.) These are deviations from Level A Service
Loadings that are anticipated to occur often enough that design should include a capability to withstand the loadings
without operations impairment. The events which cause Level B Service Loadigns include those transients which result
from any single operator error or control malfunction, transients caused by a fault in a system component requiring its
isolation from the system, and transients due to loss of load or power, These events include any abnormal incidents not
resulting in a forced outage and also forced outages for which the corrective action does not include any repair of
mechanical damage. The estimated duration of a Level B Service Loading shall be included in the Design Specifications.
NH-3113.5 Level C Service Loadings. (From infrequent incidents.) These are deviations from Level A Service Loadings
which require shutdown for correction of the loadings or repair of damage in the system. The conditions have a low
probability of occurrence, but are included to provide assurance that no grfoss loss of structural integrity will result as a
concomitant effect of any damage developed in the system. The total number of postulated occurrences for such events may
not exceed 25. If mrore than 25 are expected, then some types of events must be evaluated by the more stringent
requirements of the Level B Service Limits.
NH-3113.6 Level D Service Loadings. (From limiting faults.) These are combinations of loadings associated wth extremely
low probability, postulated events whose consequences are such that the integrity and operatbility of the nuclear energy
system may be impaired to the extent that only considerations of public health and safety are involved.
NH-3138 Elastic Follow-up (a) When only a small portion of the structure undergoes inelastic strains while the major
portion of the structural system behaves in an elastic manner, the calculations of load forces, stresses, and strains shall
consider the behavior of the entire structural system. In these cases, certain areas may be subjected to strain concentrations,
due to the elastic follow-up of the rest of the connected structure. These abnormally large strain concentrations may result
when structural parts of different flexibility are in series and the flexible portions are highly stressed. Examples include:
1) Local reduction in size of a cross section or local use of a weaker material;
2) In a piping system of uniform size, a configuration for which most of the system lies near the hypothetical straight
line connecting the two anchors, (stiffeners, flanges, or other stiff members), and with only a small portion
departing from this line. Then the small portion absorbs most of the expansion strain.
(b) If possible, the above conditions should be avoided in design. Where such conditions cannot be avoided, the analysis
required in NH-3250 will determine the acceptability of the design to guard against harmful consequences of elastic follow-
up.
NH-3139 Welding. … When temperatures cycle between low temperatures and elevated temperatures, the inelastic strains
can result in significant localized strain accumulation near an abrupt change in mechanical properties. (Examples of such
junctions are bimetallic welds, brazed joints, compression or shrink fits, bolted flanges, and other types of mechanical
joints.)
NH-3214.2 Inelastic Analysis. Since the rules and limits incorporate design factors and margins to account for material
property vaiations and uncertainties, it is generally appropriate to use average stress-strain and creep data in inelastic design
analyses. The buckling and instability lmits of Appendix T are an exception; in T-1510(g) it is stated that the minimum
expected stress-strain curve should be used.
The stress intensity limits defined in NH for Load Controlled Stresses in Structures other than Bolts are:
Sm = time independent allowable from Section II, Part D. (In NH the Sm values are extended to elevated temperatures
by using the same criteria, as per ASME Section VIII Div. 1)
Smt = the allowable limit of general primary membrane stress intensity to be used as a reference for stress calculations
for the actual service life and under Level A and B Service Loadings. Smt values are the lower ot two stress intensity
values, Sm(time independent) and St(time dependant).

So = the maximum allowable general primary membrane stress intensity to be used as a reference for stress
calculations under Design Loadings. So is usually equal to Sm, although may be different in a few cases. This should
not effect non-nuclear use of NH. (So is essentially, the values from Section II, Part D, Subpart 1, Table 1A)
St = a temperature and time-dependent stress intensity limit. The data considered in establishing these values are
obtained from long-term, constant load, uniaxial tests. For each specific time, the St values shall be the lesser of:
1) 100% of the average stress required to obtain a total (elastic, plastic, primary and secondary creep) strain of 1%;
2) 80% of the minimum stress to cause initiation of tertiary creep; and
3) 67% of the minimum stress to cause rupture.
For Weldments:
Smt = the allowable limit of general primary membrane stress intensity, and is taken from the lower of the Smt values
or 0.8Sr x R
St = temperature and time-dependent stress intensity limit at a weldment, and shall be taken as the lower of the
tabulated St values or 0.8 Sr x R
R = the appropriate ratio of the weld metal creep rupture strength to the bease metal creep rupture strength.
Sr = the expected minimum stress-to-rupture strength given in Tabels I-14.6.
NH-3222.1 Design Limits. The typical design limits are given:
Pm <= So (Eq.1)
Pl+Pb <= 1.5(So) (Eq.2)
NH-3223 Level A and B Service Limits
Pm <= Smt (Eq.3)
Pl+Pb <= KSm (Eq.4)

Pl+Pb/Kt < St
Kt accouts for the reduction in extreme fiber bending stress due to the effect of cree. Kt = (K+1)/2. The factor, K is the
section factor for the cross section being considered. It is the ratio of the load set producing a fully plastic section to a load
set producing initial yielding of the extreme fiber of the cross section. .. in evaluating across-the-wall bending of shell type
structures, K = 1.5 (for rectangular sections) shall be used. Thus, for across-the-wall shell bending, Kt = 1.25 in Eq.6.
Since Smt may be a time dependant quantity, the sum of all primary loading conditions should be evaluated for the
appropriate times using a use-fraction summation.
For Bolts:
The reference allowable bolt design stress intensity values shall be the So values given in Table I-14.12.
Leval A and B Service Limits for Bolts at Elevated Temperatures
NH-3233.1 Average Stress. The maximum value of stress due to pressure loading, averaged across the bolt cross section
and neglecting stress concentrations, shall not exceed the Smt stress values of Table I-14.13C.
NH-3233.2 Maximum Stress in the Cross Section.
The maximum values for service stresses (averaged across the bolt cross section and neglecting stress concentrations), such
as those produced by a combination of preload, pressure, and thermal expansion, shall not exceed two ties the Smt values of
Figus. I-14.13 unless the design lifetime is divided into two or more loading periods and the possibility of creep rupture due

to membrane stresses is guarded against by satisfying the use-fraction rule described in NH-3224(b), with the use-fraction
factor, B, set equal to 0.5. Stress intensity, rather than maximum stress, shall be limted to this value when bolts are
tightened by devices which result in residual torsion stresses. Residual torsion stresses are minimized by devices such as
heaters and stretchers.
NH-3223.3 Maximum Stress in the Bolt Periphery. The maximum value of service stress at the periphery of the bolt cross
section (resulting from tension-plus bending and neglecting stress concentrations) shall not exceed the lesser of threee tiems
the Smt values in Figs. I-14.13 or KtSt unless the design lifetime is divided into two or more loading periods and the
possibility of creep rupture due to bending stresses is guarded against by satisfying a use fraction rule.
Allowable Stress and Strain Criteria
NH-3250 Limits On Deformation Controlled Quantities: … The strains and deformation resulting from the specified
operating conditions shall be evaluated. This evaluation shall include the effects of ratcheting, the interaction of creep and
fatigue, and the possibility of buckling and structural instability.
NH-3225-2-thru-4 Tables for Tensile and Yield strength reduction factors due to long time prior elevated temperature
service.
Appendix T – Rules for Strain, Deformation, and Fatigue Limits at Elevated Temperatures.
T1121 Type of Analysis. Where creep effects are presumed significant, inelastic analysis is generally required to provide a
quantitative assessment of deformations and strains. However, elastic and simplified inelastic methods of analysis may
sometimes be justified and used to establish conservative bounds for deformations, strains, strain ranges and maximum
stress in order to reduce the number of locations in a structure requiring detailed inelastic analysis.
T-1220 Elastic Analysis Method. The limitations on loads from the rules and the other limits contained in NH-3200 are
intended to restrict the accumulated inelastic strain (averaged across a wall thickness) to 1% or less. However, when elastic
analysis is used, the occurrence of inelastic strains of this magnitude may not be apparent. …
T-1310 Limits for Inelastic Strains. In regions expecting elevated temperatures, the maximum accumulated inelastic strain
shall not exceed the following values.
a) strains averaged through the thickness, 1%;
b) strains at the surface, due to an equivalent linear distribution of strain through the thickness, 2%;
c) local strains at any point, 5%.
The above limits apply to computed strains accumulated over the expected operating lifetime fo the element under
consideration, and computed for some steady-state period at the end of this time during which significant transients are not
occurring. These limts apply to the maximum positive value of the three principal strains.
T-1331 (a)(2) Test T-1332 B-1 can only be used for … general structures in which the peak through-the-wall thermal stress
is negligible (i.e., the thermal stress distribution is linear through the wall).
5.3 Per API 579 10.5.6 Creep-Fatigue Assessment of Dissimilar Weld Joints.
“The metallurgical characteristics of the damage observed in both service and laboratory test samples indicate that creep
rupture is the dominant failure mode for dissimilar metal welds (DMW). … It has also been observed that temperature
cycling contributes significantly to damage and can cause failure even when primary stress levels are relatively low. … A
creep-fatigue assessment procedure is required as part of a remaining life calculation. …”
The failure modes of concern are creep damage in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) on the ferritic steel side of the DMW.
Damage in this region is expected to occur frst because the creep resistance of the material, at the temperatures of interest,
is much lower than that of the austenitic base metal or the commonly used filler metals. … The general macroscopic
appearance of many failures suggests that failure occurs by a relatively low ductility process and the final fracture surmay
show evidence of the weld bead contours. … detailed examination has shown that failure can occur by one of the following
two modes of damage.
Mode I – Intergranular cracking which occurs along prior austenite grain boundaries within the ferritic HAZ adjacent (1-to-
2 grains) to the weld metal interface. This mode occurs for bimetallic welds made with austenitic stainless filler metal and

sometimes for bimetallic welds made with nickel-based filler metal. The initial intergranular voiding or cracking develops
within the wall of the component, and does not normally initiate either at the inside or outside of the surfaces, [making the
start of cracking impossible to detect by replication.]
Mode II – Interfacial voiding in which voiding and cracking occur along a planar array of coarse globular carbides that
form along the ferritic HAZ to weld metal interface. This cracking also starts from within the wall of the component.
5.4 ASME Section VIII Division 1 and B31.1/B31.3 Approaches
These Codes provide high temperature guidance by incorporating creep rupture strength values in the allowable stress
determination as described below:
ASME Section VIIII Division 1 (1998): (From 1998 ASME Section II Part D Appendix 1)
1-100 (a) At temperatures below the range where creep and stress rupture strength govern the selection of stresses the
maximum allowable stress value is the lowest of the following:
1)one-fourth of the specified minimum tensile strength at room temperature;

2)one-fourth of the tensile strength at temperature;
3)two-thirds of the specified minimum yield strength at room temperature;
4)two-thirds of the yield strength at temperature
(b)At temperatures in the range where creep and stress rupture strength govern the selection of stresses, the maximum
allowable stress value for all materials … [shall] not exceed the lowest of the following:
1)100% fo the average stress to produce a creep rate of 0.01%/1000hr.
2)67& of the average stress to cause rupture at the end of 100,000 hr.
3)80% of the minimum stress to cause rupture at the end of 100,000 hr.
ASME Section VIII Division 2 (1998): (From 1998 ASME Section II Part D Appendix 2)
2-110 The design stress intensity values at any temperature are no loarge than the least of the following:
a)one-third of the specified minimum tensile strength at room temperature;
b)one-third of the tensile strength at temperature;
c)two-thirds of the specified minimum yield strength at room temperature;
d)two-thirds of the yield strength at temperature.
For both Division 1 and Division 2, for austenitic materials (304,310,316,347) and specified nonferrous alloys stresses may
exceed two-thirds but not 90% of the minimum yield strength at temperature. The Code recommends that the higher stress
values should be used only where slightly higher deformation is not objectionable, and are NOT recommended for the
design of flanges or other strain sensitive applications.
2001-2004 ASME Section II Part D Appendix 1

1-100 (a) At temperatures below the range where creep governs the one-fourth factor on tensile strength has been reduced
to a 1/3.5 factor = 0.2857 (from 0.25). There is also a slight change in the creep rupture strength requirement in the 2001-
2004 Section II Part D requirements.
API RP 530: The rupture allowable Stress Sr is 100 percent of the minimum rupture strength for a specified design life.
The elastic allowable stress is two-thirds the yield strength at temperature for ferritic steels and 90 percent of the yield
strength at temperature for austenitic steels.
API RP 530 specifies that for below creep temperatures an elastic design equation can be used, and that for creep
temperatures a creep rupture design equation can be used. At the onset of creep conditions, (where the minimum creep
rupture strength and 2/3 of the yield strength are the same), both elastic and creep equations should be used and the largest
design thickness selected. The onset of creep conditions can be estimated by:
T = 800 degF – (1-Pr/Pe)(1500) … for ferritic steels

T = 1000 degF – (1-Pr/Pe)(1500) … for austenitic steels.
Where Pr is the rupture design pressure and Pe is the elastic design pressure.
Pe (per 1.4.3) is the maximum pressure that the heater coil will sustain for short periods of time, usually related to relief
valve settings, pump shut-in pressures, …
Pr (per 1.4.4) is the maximum operating pressure that the coil section will sustain during normal operation. The tube must
withstand this pressure during long periods of operation.
The heater tube thickness calculation for rupture is based on a reduced effect due to corrosion since the stress level is lower
for the majority of the tube life as the corrosion thickness is lost. (See Appendix B of API RP 530).
The API RP 530 stress in the tube can be found to be P(Do-ts)/2ts where ts is the procured tube thickness minus corrosion
allowance. (The procured tube thickness is typically taken to be the nominal tube thickness minus 12.5% unless the
procurement specification states otherwise.) For the elastic analysis, “P” is Pe, and for the creep analysis “P” is Pr. The
allowables for each are Se and Sr as described above.
5.5 Rule Outlines for ASME Section III Subsection NH:
The ASME Section III NH High Temperature rules described below are somewhat simplified for each of interpretation and
implementation. User’s interested in specific implementation details for more complex loading cases are encouraged to
review the exact text of NH for complete details.
For Design Load-Controlled Loads:
Enter So for Sh for Section III work, or use the standard hot allowable from ASME Section VIII Division 1 for the hot
allowable.
1)Using the thermometer tool in FE/Pipe and the 3d viewer, be sure that the Pl stress removed from discontinuities is less
than So. This is equivalent to making sure that the Code rules are satisfied for pressure design for all of the components in
the vessel or piping system.
2)Make sure that Pl is less than 1.5So, where Pl is from the FE/Pipe primary stress evaluation.
For Operating Load-Controlled Loads:
1)Use Smt for Sh in the areas removed from discontinuities. Using the thermometer tool, the local membrane stress away
from discontinuities should be less than Smt. (Eq. NH-3223(3))
2)The local membrane stress adjacent to discontinuities should be less than or equal to St. (Eq. NH-3223(5)
For Occasional+Operating Load-Controlled Loads:
Refer to NH-3224 for Level C Service Limits.
There is an increase on the general primary membrane stress intensity of 20% on Sm, i.e. Pm < 1.2Sm, and also the
requirement that Pm < 1.0St. (Eq. NH-3224 (7))
There is an increase on the local primary membrane stress intensity of 20% on Sm, i.e. Pl <= (1.2)(1.5)(Sm) (Eq. NH-3224
(9). Also Pl from this case must be less than St (Eq. NH-3224 (10).
There is also a use fraction rule when for increments of primary loadings that use the St (time dependant) high temperature
allowable.
Design Limits for Load Controlled Loads on Bolts at Elevated Temperature (NH-3232)

For design pressure the value of So shall be used to determine the number and cross-sectional area of bolts required to resit
the design pressure. (Cross sectional area to be used is at the root of the thread.)
For Level A or Level B service conditions, the average stress across the bolt cross section, neglecting stress concentrations,
shall not exceed the Smt stress values for the bolt materials. (NH-3233.1)
The maximum value for service stresses averaged across the bolt cross section and neglecting stress concentrations), such
as those produced by a combination of preload, pressure, and thermal expansion, shall not exceed two times the Smt
values….
NH-32233.3 The maximum value of service stress at the periphery of the bolt cross section resulting from tension plus
bending and neglecting stress concentrations shall not exceeed the lesser of three tmes the Smt values or KtSt …
Nonmandatory Appendix T – Rules for Strain, Deformation, and Fatigue Limits at Elevated Temperatures.
Design and Level D service limits do not require checking under Appendix T rules.
T-1200 and T-1300 Deformation and Strain Limits for Structural Integrity:
T-1310 Limits for Inelastic Strains: (a) strains averaged through the thickness, 1%; (b) strains at the surface, due to an
equivalent linear distribution of strain through the thickness, 2%, (c) local strains at any point, 5%. The above limits apply
to computed strains accumulated over the expected operating lifetime of the element… These limits apply ot the maximum
positive value of the three principal strains. A positive strain is defined as one for which the length of the element in the
direction of the strain is increased.
T-1320 Permits a satisfaction of strain limits using elastic analysis. The T-1310 limits are considered satisfied if either T-
1322, or T-1323, or T-1324 are satisfied.
T-1322 and T-1323 can be considered the limit on the sum of primary and secondary stresses, and is limited to Syavg
instead of 3Sm, which is 2Syavg. Essentially:
For T-1322 and T-1323: Pl+Pb+Q < Syavg
Test T-1342 No. A-3 is the most interesting of the secondary stress tests, because it requires that the actual service lifetime
at a temperature Ti is less than the allowed lifetime at a temperature Ti and a stress of 1.5 times the Sy associated with the
Ti. This test can be impossible to satisfy, but may be used to validate higher temperature use for a very short period of time.
For example, for 304SS Sy at 1250F from the high temperature profile curve in MAT/PRO is 20,700 psi. 1.5 times Sy =
(1.5)(20,700) = 31,050 psi. 31,050 psi at 1,000 degF crosses the Fig I-14.6B line at 104 hours. To satisfy T-1324 Test No.
A-3. The maximum this material could be exposed to 1,000 degF is (time)/104 = 0.1 (per T-1324(a)), (time) = (0.1)(104) =
103 = 1000 hr.

There are also runes T-1330 to satisfy the strain limits using a simplified inelastic analysis. Stresses from an elastic analysis
are used with these rules. These rules can only be used when one of the varying stress states is below the creep
temperatures given in table T-1323:
T-1323 Temperatures at which Sm = St105
Type 304SS 948F 509C

Type 316 SS 1,011F 544C
Alloy 800H 1,064F 573C
2.25Cr-1Mo 801F 427C
9Cr-1Mo-V 940F 504C
For T-1332, the elastically calculated primary and secondary stress intensities are used to determine an effective creep
stress Sc = Z * SyL.
The creep ratcheting strain is determined by multiplying Sc by 1.25 and evaluating the creep strain associated with the 1.25
Sc stress held constant throughout the temperature-tiem history of the entire service life. (Isochronous stress-strain curves
are used for this purpose.) The total service life may be subdivided into temperature-time blocks when there are multiple
different loading cycles to be evaluated.
The analysis procedure to address T-1332 should be:
1)Perform an elastic analysis including weight, pressure and operating loads as normal. Include temperature loads if they
apply.
2)Compute “X” from: X = Pl / SyL, where SyL = cold yield stress.
3)Compute “Y” from Y = Pl+Pb+Q/SyL
3)Rerun the analysis with the isochronous stress strain curve included, and compute nonlinear strains for the
primary/sustained load case – e(pr)
4)Rerun the analysis with the isochronous stress-strain curve included and compute nonlinear strains for the operating load
case – e(op)
MAT/PRO has a function to determine if either A-1, A-2, A-3, or B-1, B-2, B-3 are satisfied given X, Y and the cold and
hot yield strengths. The user should not expect that either of these will be satisfied if the secondary stresses are high, or if
the primary stresses are high and the secondary stresses are moderate.

Paulin Research Group Alternate Approach to Satisfy Strain Limits of T-1310.
An alternate approach uses the nonlinear strains calculated using a single nonlinear load step and the bilinear isochronous
stress strain curve.

Creep-Fatigue Interaction
The interaction of creep and fatigue is very complex. The relationship is simplified by ASME III NH T-1400
t/T + n/N < D
where D is the allowable life fraction taken from a figure similar to the one shown above. The life fraction relationship used
in FE/Pipe is similar to the one used in NH but is altered to fit PRG experiences with high temperature service.
A more conservative approach is discussed above and is recommended by PRG.
t/T + s/S < d
where s/S is the allowable cyclic stress ratio.

5.6 Excerpts from Nuclear Code Case N-253


The following Data Bases are available from the pull down menu:
ASME 2004 1A – ASME Section VIII Division 1 Ferrous Materials

1B – ASME Section VIII Division 1 Non Ferrous Materials
2A – ASME Section VIII Division 2 Ferrous Materials
3 – ASME Section VIII Division 1 Bolting Materials*
4 – ASME Section VIII Division 2 Bolting Materials for Analysis
*
Use Table 3 for Section VIII Division 2 Appendix 3 Flange Analysis
ASME 2001/2 1A – ASME Section VIII Division 1 Ferrous Materials

ASME 2000 1A – ASME Section VIII Division 1 Ferrous Materials

PRG/ASME Section VIII Division 1

PRG/ASME Section VIII Division 2

User added and specialty materials not included in the ASME Code as well as generic material
properties are included in the PRG data base.
The material filter options are shown below. This filter reduces the number of materials displayed
and makes it easier for the user to find the particular material of interest. The material assistant is
also shown below and should be used
The user is encouraged to experiment with these options to find the material identification method
most suited to a particular need.
If the user selects Carbon Steel Seamless Pipe/Tube and then selects the “Show More” switch the
following screen should appear.

Allowable stresses, yield strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and thermal expansion
coefficient as a function of temperature can be selected from the tabs at the top of the page.
Property plots, High Temperature (ASME Section III NH) Reports, or further Filtering of the
materials can be selected from the very top buttons in the Show More screen extension.
An annotated Property Plot form is shown below:

Any combination of materials and plot types can be selected at one time. A variety of plot options
exist for each category. Only a few of the uses are listed below:
General Property Plots
a) Show allowables from different materials as a function of temperature to see where certain
materials are stronger or weaker than others.
b) Show allowables with yield and tensile strength to see which material property governs the
allowable.
c) Show the actual material property as a function of temperature to know what excursions will
due to the component strength.
d) Extrapolate beyond Code limits for material properties
Fatigue Plots
a) Generated plots include the effects of temperature, creep and thickness.
b) Plots can be generated based on ASME Section VIII Div 2, Markl or API 579. The user can
select the API 579 curve to be used based on the weld detail. Class 124+ corresponds to the base
metal curve and should compare closest to the ASME Section VIII Div 2 Polished Bar tests.
Markl tests on which the fatigue allowables in the piping codes are based can also be plotted.

Plots can be generated separately or together so that users can directly compare the different
fatigue allowables.
c) Fatigue curves are adjusted based on the effect of material thickness, temperature and total
time at temperature. High temperature adjustments are made and correlated with ASME Section
III NH.
d) Plots can be generated on a cycle range basis so that users can focus on their area of interest
in the number of cycles domain.
e) Plots can be generated on a linear basis so that the obscuring effect of the log relationship can
be removed.
f) Multiple fatigue curves for different temperatures or thicknesses and the same material can be
generated on a single plot so that the user can see the effect of temperature on fatigue life.
Creep Rupture Plots
a) Creep rupture strength as a function of temperature and stress can be generated on a single plot so
that user’s can see the fall off in property.
b) Any property plots can be generated together. In the example below yield strength and creep
rupture strength are shown on the same plot.
c) Rupture stress ranges can be plotted as a function of time and temperature as shown below. Each
line in the plot represents a constant stress and gives the allowed time at a given temperature for that
particular stress.
d) If the user suspects that a weld may not be ductile, or is an older weld and may suffer a loss of
ductility the creep rupture basis may be set to brittle and the results. Note that ductility options only
affect the creep-fatigue interaction diagram.

e) A creep-fatigue interaction diagram is shown below. Creep and fatigue life fractions from either
a finite element or beam-type analysis can be used to determine the interaction of creep and fatigue.
There is more information on this in the separate section on high temperature analysis.
High Temperature Stress Strain Plots
Isochronous, Plasochronous and nominal material stress-strain plots may be generated for any list of
times and temperatures. An example is shown below illustrating how the stress-strain curve changes
as the time at temperature increases. Optimized bilinear forms of these curves are generated for use
in a plastic material analysis.
A detailed discussion of the high temperature evaluations and approaches are included in a separate
section.

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PRG 2005 Release Aug. 1, 2005 www.paulin.

MatPRO Version 1.0

The principle uses of MatPRO include:

1) Electronic look up of material allowables and properties

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 6.1

Mat/PRO v1.0: High Temperature Guidelines

t Time that a primary acting creep load acts (hours)

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.1

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.2

1 Guidelines for High Temperature Applications

a) Reduced cyclic reduction factor based on material and temperature.

1.1 Summary of guidelines

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.3

a) Aware of the condition and avoid it, or

5) Peak cyclic stresses should be compared to reduced, high temperature allowables.

1.2 High Temperature Stress Strain Curves and Creep-fatigue Interaction

Figure 1 – (Sample) Family of Plasochronous Stress-Strain Curves

t - Time that a primary acting creep load acts

1) PRG comparisons cover a broader range of materials than ASME NH

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.4

Figure 2 – The Creep-Fatigue Interaction Diagram

2.1 Analysis Based on Beam Elements

Minimum Requirements – 0 (number of cycles < 200):

Recommended Approach – 1 (200 < number of cycles < 1000):

Recommended Approach – 2 (number of cycles >1000):

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.5

a) Markl Equation: N = [(SE)(Ec) / (30E6)(245,000) ]-5

Part 1) Secondary / Fatigue Stress Fraction

where SA = Allowable From B31.3 Equation 1a (psi) = [ f(1.25(Sc+Sh) – SL )

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.6

Fatigue Life Fraction = [ ( SE + E∆α(To-70)/2 ) / SHT ] 2.7

Part 2) Primary Stress Fraction

The allowable primary (sustained) stress: SHTsus= (0.5)(Sh) [(t)(10β)]-0.37

The life fraction for the primary/sustained stresses is:

Primary/Sustained Life Fraction = ( SB31 / SHTsus ) 2.7

Recommended Approach – 3a For Bimetallic Welds – Strain Approach

Bimetallic weld allowable strain:

Procedure to find thermal strain in bimetallic weld:

Eab = Elastic modulus at temperature (averaged for both materials)

ε = 2/3 [ (ε12 + ε22 + ε1ε2 ) ] 1/2

ε / 0.01 + Pl / 1.5Smh < 1.0

2.2 Analysis Based on Shell Element

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.7

Part 1) Secondary / Fatigue Stress Fraction

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.8

2.3 Analysis Based on Volumetric 2d and 3d Elements

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.9

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.10

To plot generation screen appears below:

Sm,Yield,Tensile,Modulus,Alpha – Generates material property curves as a function of temperature. Rupture

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.11

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.12

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.13

Figure 1 – Example Piping System

1) Primary/Sustained Evaluation (with adjusted high temperature allowable if needed).

3) Fatigue Evaluation (extended typical B31 “thermal” stress evaluation.)

4 )Creep-Fatigue Interaction Evaluation

© Copyright 2005, Paulin Research Group 7.14

Figure 2 – Piping Model and Results

B31 Expansion Stresses

Expansion B31 ASME Markl

12103. 34750. 35140. 41701. Pipe Elements

12103. 34750. 35140. 41701. Pipe Elements

Sy(X+Y) = (PL+PB+Q)OPE and Sy(X) = PL