API 521 7th Edition Ballot Item 6.

5
Work Item 41 – Flow Induced Vibration Guidance
Background

Work Item 41:

#  Source  Section  Comment  Proposed Change  Volunteer 

41  5/14/14  5.5.12  I would like to  In my opinion the new edition will include the  Hisao Izuchi; Tom 
Email to  propose to add  basic phenomena of FIV for both of beam and  Bevilacqua; Georges 
M. Porter  "Flow Induced  shell mode vibrations of the pipe. EI guideline  Melhem; Eli Vatland 
Vibration (FIV)" in  will be referred for the beam mode vibration  Johansen and Jim 
the next API521  and Chiyoda paper will be referred for the  Cowling to review 
edition.   shell mode vibration. Recently I have a closed 
relation with Rob Swindell, key member of EI 
guideline, and he agreed with me to support 
to prepare the draft of this new part on FIV. 

Supporting presentation from API 521 Fall 2015 meeting is given following the proposed
changes.
Proposed Modifications to API 521 6th Edition (New non-Mandatory Annex F):

Annex F
(Informative)
Flow Induced Vibration
Pressure-relieving systems are usually sized at relatively high velocities and turbulence energies become
enlarged after the tees, reducers, bends, valves, etc. due to vortex formations with pressure fluctuations.
The pressure fluctuations become larger as the fluid velocities become higher and their frequency spectrum
have broadband characteristic with peak at lower frequency region. Piping vibration may occur at relatively
low frequencies due to these pressure fluctuations caused by turbulence relating to insufficient stiffness of
the piping system and consequently this may have resulted in fatigue failure of the piping system. This
phenomenon is called flow induced vibration. In particular the turbulence energy becomes extremely
enlarged especially just after the expansion at laterals or reducers (enlargements) [56].

Common examples of the mitigation options to prevent piping fatigue failure due to flow induced vibration
include but not limited to the following [56], [X1], [X2]:
a) Reducing the velocity by enlarging the pipe diameter.
b) Adding piping supports and/or increasing wall thickness.

References
[56] Energy Institute, Guidelines for the avoidance of vibration induced fatigue in process pipework,
Second Edition, 2008, ISBN 978-0-85293-463-0
[X1] M. Nishiguchi, H. Izuchi, I. Hayashi & G. Minorikawa, Flow induced vibration of piping downstream of
tee connection, Proceedings—10th International Conference on Flow-Induced Vibration, July, 2012
[X2] M. Nishiguchi, H. Izuchi, I. Hayashi & G. Minorikawa, Investigation of characteristic of flow induced
vibration caused by turbulence relating to acoustically induced vibration, Proceedings—ASME 2014
Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference, July 2014
 Task Force on API521
API Fall Meeting 2015

Flow Induced Vibration (FIV)

Caused by Turbulence

Hisao Izuchi
Chiyoda Corporation

© Chiyoda Corporation 2015, All Rights Reserved.

Contents

1. Phenomena of FIV

2. Evaluation Method on FIV

3.Proposed Draft for API521

1
Increase of FIV Failure Possibility
 Increase of plant capacity
 Flow rates of pressure reliving system tend to increase
 Pipe diameters tend to increase

 Economic design of piping system

 Velocities of flare piping tend to increase
 Wall thicknesses of flare piping tend to decrease

Exciting Force Increases + Piping Stiffness Decreases Relatively

• AIV (Acoustically Induced Vibration)
• FIV (Flow Induced Vibration caused by Turbulence)

 Instruction of FIV should be added into API521

Failure Caused by FIV

High Velocity
= High Turbulence
= Large Exciting Force
&
Low Stiffness of Piping

Sever Piping Vibration

(Beam Mode)

Fatigue Failure

Piping failure example caused by FIV

(presented by E. Zamejc, API Spring Meeting, 2006)

3
 Mechanism of FIV
Norton and Karczub* explain as follows:
(1) An intense non-propagating pressure field is generated in the
immediate vicinity of the disturbances such as those produced by
valves, bends, junctions, and other pipe fittings.
(2) This fluctuating pressure field decays exponentially with distance
from the disturbance, falling off to an essentially constant asymptotic
state within a distance about ten diameters.

This locally generated non-propagating pressure fluctuation

could be source of the FIV.

* M. P. Norton and D. G. D. G. Karczub, “Fundamentals of Noise and

Vibration Analysis for Engineers”, 2nd Edition, Cambridge, 2003

Pressure Fluctuation after 90deg Miter Bend

10-1
 p   p U 0 q0 ai
X 2 2
M=0.22
10-2 0.76
1.15
1.54

  ai /U 0
1.92
2.31
10-3 9.14
10.45
1
X  x/d q0   f U 02
11.76
52.8
Undistributed
10-2 fully-developed
turbulent flow
2
M=0.40
10-3 x : axis of pipe downstream of bend
d : internal diameter of pipe
10-4
f : density of fluid in pipe
10-5 U0 : center-line velocity at X=52.8
p

p : wall pressure fluctuation

10-2
ai : internal pipe radius
10-3 M=0.50  : radian frequency
Large pressure M : Mach Number
10-4 fluctuation at low
frequency region M. K. Bull and M. P. Norton, “On the
10-5
Hydrodynamic and Acoustic Wall
10-6 Pressure Fluctuations in Turbulent Pipe
Undisturbed fully developed Flow due to 90deg Miter Bend”, J. Sound
turbulent flow in a straight pipe
10-7 and Vibration, pp561-586, Vol76-4, 1981
at M=0.40

10-1 100  101 102 5

Pressure Fluctuation after 90deg Miter Bend
 Pressure fluctuation increases due to the effect of miter bend.
• Max. non-dimensional PSD of pressure fluctuation p becomes order
of 10-1

 This PSD fo fluctuating pressure field rapidly decays with distance at

10 diameter.
• Max. non-dimensional pressure fluctuation p becomes order of 10-3
at X = 11.76.

 This decreased fluctuating pressure field (Max p of 10-3) is still higher

than that of undisturbed fully developed turbulent flow in a straight pipe
(Max p of 10-5).

Pressure fluctuations just after the disturbances such as valve, tee,

miter bend etc. become the source of FIV
(Broadband and random excitation with relatively low frequency)

Pressure Fluctuation after Expander, Miter Bend, etc.

90 deg. Miter
bend and 1:2
expander would
be sources FIV.

Also Combining
tee with small
(90 deg.)
branch area ratio
to main line could
be source of FIV
similar to 1:2
expander.

J. A. Mann, D. Eilers and A. C. Fagerlund, “Predicting pipe internal sound field and
pipe wall vibration using statistical energy approaches for AIV”, Inter-Noise 2012

7
Pressure Fluctuation at Combining Tee
Results of CFD Analysis
with HPC (High Performance Computer)
Pressure Distribution at Centre Cross Section

Periodic separation vortex structure

moves from junction edge to bottom of
the pipe and dissipates at downstream.

Pressure Fluctuation at Combining Tee

Results of CFD Analysis
with HPC (High Performance Computer)
Pressure Distribution at Wall

Wall Pressure [Pa]

* Gray color shows Iso-surface of low pressure

The separation vortex structure causes large pressure
fluctuation at the pipe wall around the impingement point.

9
Pressure Fluctuation at Combining Tee
Results of CFD Analysis
with HPC (High Performance Computer)
1D Downstream 2D Downstream

Impingement Point 1D Downstream 2D Downstream 10

Screening Method in EI Guidelines

 “Guidelines for the Avoidance of Vibration Induced Fatigue Failure in
Process Pipework” published by Energy Institute, 2008 (EI Guidelines)
offer a screening method of FIV failure risk for beam mode pipe
vibration, however this method is only for screening purpose and not
suitable for detailed design.
 In EI Guidelines, the following screening method (outline) is introduced:
(1) Calculate LOF (Likelihood of Failure)
V 2
LOF  FVF
FV
Fv: FIV Factor (Function of Piping Flexibility, D and D/t)
FVF: Fluid Viscosity Factor for Gas
There are four classes for piping flexibility, Stiff (14-16Hz), Medium Stiff (7Hz),
Medium (4Hz) and Flexible (1Hz). Frequency in the parenthesis is typical
fundamental natural frequency.
(2) LOF  1.0  Main line shall be redesigned.
1.0  LOF  0.5  Small core connection should be assessed.
11
 Chiyoda FIV Study
 Chiyoda executed experimental study of FIV just after a combined tee.

 Backgrounds of study are

(1) Large amount of flow in flare piping system
(2) Economic piping design = Relatively thinner pipe wall thickness
 Increase of FIV risk

 Generally flare piping system is stiff for beam mode vibration

corresponding to adequate pipe support span and large diameter.
However, the shell mode vibration of the pipe would increase
corresponding to relatively larger D/t similar to AIV.

12

Chiyoda FIV Study / Field Measurement

of Circumferential Stress
Power Spectral Density

0.025
計測結果 3' 2' 2 2 3
66Hz (3rd mode) 5'
4' 4
5
0.020 6'
1
6
7' 0 7
8' 8
-1
0.015 9' 9
20 -2 10
11' 11
0.010 12' 12
13' 13
14' 14
15' 15
0.005 16'
17' 18'
16
18 17
19

0.000 (b) Distribution of Vibration Displacement

0 50 100 150 200 (3rd Shell Mode at 66Hz)
Frequency [Hz]
(a) Power Spectral Density of Piping Stress Vibration stress of shell
(corresponding to circumferential strain)
mode is higher than that
Circumferential Stress Axial Stress of beam mode.
Strain
Stress
Piping

H. Izuchi, “Piping Integrity Design for

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Flare System on Acoustically Induced
Time [sec]
Time[sec] Vibration and Flow Induced Vibration”,
(c) Time History of Piping Strain 20th World Petroleum Congress, 2011

13
Chiyoda FIV Study / Experiment Facility

15 to 30
bara

45 and 90 deg.

TP: Pressure Sensor

TPA: Pressure Fluctuation Sensor

M. Nishiguchi, H. Izuchi and G. Minorikawa,

“Investigation of Characteristic of Flow
Induced Vibration Caused by Turbulence
Relating to Acoustically Induced Vibration”,
ASME PVP2014

14

Chiyoda FIV Study / Vibration Index

 From the fundamental random vibration characteristic the following
vibration index can be introduced to express the magnitude of the
vibration severity.

F : Force
m : Mass of Pipe
fn : Fundamental Natural Frequency of Pipe
g : Density of Fluid
A1 : Branch Flow Area
v : Fluid Velocity at Branch
p : Pressure Discontinuity at Branch (=0 at Subsonic Flow)
rp : Density of Pipe
D2 : Main Pipe Diameter
t2 : Wall thickness of Main Pipe

15
 Chiyoda FIV Study / Experiment Results (90deg Tee)

Proposed vibration
index is quite
effective to express
the magnitude of
vibration stress for
wide range of piping
specifications
]

(branch area ratio

and wall thickness)
and process
condition including
choking condition at
branch pipe.

16

Chiyoda FIV Study / Experiment Results (45/90deg Tee)

Proposed vibration
index is useful for
both of 45 and 90
degree tees.

The Vibration stress

of the 90 degrees tee
is approximately 1.3
]

times the vibration

stress of the 45
degrees tee..

17
Investigation Summary
 Failure risk of flare piping system due to FIV tends to increase
corresponding to the increase of relieving flow rate.

 FIV occurs at just after the disturbances (valve, tee, miter bend etc.)
which generate turbulence with broadband and random excitation
characteristics with relatively low frequency.

 Both beam and shell mode vibrations could occur relating to lower
stiffness of the piping system. Beam mode vibration would occur in
case of insufficient support of the piping system.

 A screening method to evaluate FIV risk is described in EI Guidelines,

however this method is still conservative for gas service after
modification taking the dynamic viscosity effect into account.

 Vibration index introduced by Chiyoda is useful to evaluate the

magnitude of vibration stress for shell mode vibration caused by FIV.

18

Draft for API 521 New Edition / Policy

 Design method would be difficult to be defined in API 521 though there

are several publications on FIV.

 Caution of FIV should be described in API 521 because there would be

piping failure risk caused by FIV.

 The proposed policy for API 521 description is to explain the following
items:
(1) Mechanics and characteristics of FIV
(2) Key design points for FIV with referred publications.

19
Draft for API 521 New Edition (1/2)
5.5.X Flow Induced Vibration

Pressure-relieving systems are usually sized at relatively high velocities

and turbulence energies become enlarged after the tees, reducers, bends,
valves, etc. due to vortex formations with pressure fluctuations. The
pressure fluctuations become larger as the fluid velocities become higher
and their frequency spectrum have broadband characteristic with peak at
lower frequency region. Piping vibration of beam mode may occur at
relatively low frequency due to these pressure fluctuation caused by
turbulence relating to insufficient stiffness of the piping system and
consequently this may have resulted in fatigue failure of the piping system.
This phenomenon is called flow induced vibration [56].

In particular the turbulence energy becomes extremely enlarged

especially for the tail pipe ends just before the expansions at laterals or
reducers (enlargements). In this case circumferential vibration in the pipe
wall can occur with relatively low frequency in addition to the beam mode
vibration relating to insufficient stiffness of the piping system for
circumferential direction similar to high-frequency vibration caused by the
noise source (see 5.5.12) [X1], [X2].
. 20

Draft for API 521 New Edition (2/2)

Common examples of the mitigation options to prevent piping fatigue
failure due to flow induced vibration include but are not limited to the
following [56], [X1], [X2].
a) Reducing the velocity by enlarging the pipe diameter
b) Adding piping supports to mitigate the piping vibration of beam mode.
c) Increasing wall thickness to mitigate the circumferential vibration in the
pipe wall

References
[56] Energy Institute, Guidelines for the avoidance of vibration induced
fatigue in process pipework, Second Edition, 2008, ISBN 978-0-
85293-463-0
[X1] M. Nishiguchi, H. Izuchi, I. Hayashi & G. Minorikawa, Flow induced
vibration of piping downstream of tee connection, Proceedings—10th
International Conference on Flow-Induced Vibration, July, 2012
[X2] M. Nishiguchi, H. Izuchi, I. Hayashi & G. Minorikawa, Investigation of
characteristic of flow induced vibration caused by turbulence relating
to acoustically induced vibration, Proceedings—ASME 2014
Pressure Vessels & Piping Conference, July 2014

21
 Future Technical Development for AIV and FIV
 AIV and FIV are quite similar vibration phenomena caused by random
pressure fluctuation in the pipe.
 The difference of AIV and FIV are the excitation sources. The sources
of AIV and FIV are shock wave generated by restriction device and
turbulence generated by disturbance such as tee, expander,
respectively.
 The region of FIV is limited at the vicinity of the generating point. On
the other hand the region of AIV is quite wide area at the downstream
of the restriction devices. This difference in the region is introduced
from the dissipation characteristics of AIV and FIV.
 Most of failure locations due to AIV is just downstream of combining
tee as shown in Carucci and Mueller paper. FIV risk becomes also
high at this combined tee downstream as shown in the next slide.
 This means the comprehensive evaluation method is desired to be
developed taking both effects of AIV and FIV into accounts. This
activity will be done in the AIV JIP organized by Energy Institute.
22

C-M Data Review with FIV Evaluation

18 18

16 16

14 14
FIV Vibration Index (Vn)

FIV Vibration Index (Vn)

12 12
Failure
10 No Failure 10

8 8
Failure
6 6 No Failure
4 4

2 2

0 0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0 200,000 400,000 600,000
Pipe Diameter (m) Flow Rate (kg/h)

 As shown above, FIV indexes for failure case are apparently higher
than those of no failure case. This suggests that the role of FIV effect
could not be ignored in AIV evaluation.

23
Thank you

© Chiyoda Corporation 2015, All Rights Reserved.

24