ISSUE NO.

99-01 July 26, 1999

at is Piping Stress Analysis?
Piping Stress analysis is the process of evaluating the structural integrity of a
given piping system within the guidelines established by applicable codes and
standards of the particular industry.

The objective of piping flexibility and stress analysis is to ensure safety against: PIPE SPAN CHART
 failure of the piping material or anchor structure from overstress
 leakage at joints When using the pipe span
 overloads at connected equipment chart, allowance must be
made for deviations from
the conditions given on the
Stress Computer Software chart. In special cases
TOOL used by the stress (such as special pipe
engineers in the analysis of materials like plastic
piping systems based on data pipes), see stress
such as design conditions engineer for allowable
(temperature, pressure), climatic span information.
conditions (solar, wind, Approved vendor catalogs
earthquake), pipe sizes and may be used if available.
materials, commodity, supports
and support locations,
equipment data, allowable
stresses.

CAESAR II incorporates many of the limitations placed on piping systems and the
attached equipment. The limits are specified by engineering bodies such as
… that the general formula for
ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) codes, API standards thermal expansion is
(American Petroleum Institute), NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers
Association, Inc.), etc.
= eL

Flexible and Stiff Piping Where:

The figure below shows the examples of stiff and flexible piping. When piping is e=linear thermal expansion
subjected to change in temperature and if the pipe is not restrained from which varies with material type
and temperature
expansion, no stresses are developed and the pipe just expands or contracts. L=original pipe length
When the pipe is restrained, stresses and forces of considerable magnitude are
created. =Greek letter “Delta”
representing change in
length

Sample calculation:
6”-CS pipe @ T=350F
e=0.0226 in/ft, L=100 ft
 = eL
 = (0.0226)(100)
 = 2.26 inches