inspection, examination, and testing of glass fiber reinforced of the material strength where the LDV is defined as the

thermosetting resin (herein referred to as FRP) piping systems. test mean value less two standard deviations.
FRP is a composite material made by combining two or more  Method D — Design by Stress Analysis. Allowable
constituent materials to form a glass fiber reinforced polymer stresses are determined using laminate theory
matrix laminate. FRP materials can be customized in a variety of appropriately conservative strain limits or using
different laminate designs which results in a material which is laminate theory along with results from short-term
both nonhomogeneous and anisotropic. Such customization is testing. The laminate theory method consists of two
view by the industry as being a competitive advantage of the steps: the first is to perform a biaxial stress analysis of
material. Therefore, the NM.2 Standard was written with the the component to determine the stress state at points of
intent to provide a common set of rules to addresses pipe and concern in the component; and the second step is to
piping components that are produced as standard commodity- apply the quadratic interaction criterion to demonstrate
type products as well as custom products that are designed for a that the stress state is within permissible limits. The
specific application. In addition, the Standard allows for a variety quadratic interaction criterion requires calculation of
of manufacturing methods of FRP pipe and piping components the strength ratio of each individual lamina for each
including but not limited to contact molding, compression loading combination using stress limits determined by:
molding, centrifugal casting, and filament winding. (1) testing of individual layers (lamina) or macrolayers
To accommodate the unique design criteria for a to determine the stress limit based on a strength ratio of
customizable material that is nonhomogeneous and anisotropic, not less than 6; or (2) using stress limits calculated from
a single design methodology was developed but allowed the specified strain limits using the appropriate modulus of
determination of allowable stress values by both prescriptive and elasticity values with the strength ratio not less than 8.
performance-based methods. These methods utilize historical
experience in successful service and proof-of-design testing, as Because the strength of the material in one direction, e.g.
well as detailed stress analysis using laminate theory with a longitudinal direction, depends upon the stress in the orthogonal
quadratic interaction failure criterion. The magnitude of the direction, e.g. hoop direction, an allowable stress envelope as
design factors used are dependent upon the level of confidence shown in Figure 2 is used to define the allowable stresses. The
of the material properties. The philosophy being that components allowable stress envelope defines the allowable longitudinal
qualified with the highest level of confidence have the lowest stress as a function of the coincident hoop stress.
design factors, while components designed by prescription
methods and with lower levels of confidence will have the
highest design factors. The four methods of design recognized
by the NM.2 Standard are as follows.
 Method A — Design by Rules. Allowable stresses for
listed materials are provided in ASME NM.3.3 based
on not greater than one-eighth of the lower deviated
value (LDV) of the laminate tensile strength. The LDV
is defined as the test mean value less two standard
deviations from a large sample of industry samples.
This method minimized the amount of testing required
to qualify a piping component in exchange for a highest
design factor.
 Method B — Design by Long-Term Testing.
Allowable stresses are determined using the results of
long-term pressure testing procedures described in
ASTM D2992, defined as the hydrostatic design
stresses (HDS). The long-term hydrostatic strength
(LTHS) is defined as the lower 95% prediction limit of
the estimated tensile stress in the wall of the pipe in the
hoop direction due to internal hydrostatic pressure that
Figure 2 – Allowable Stress Envelope
will cause failure of the pipe after the design life of the
piping, which is normally specified as not less than
Regardless of the qualification method, a minimum of two
175,200 hours (20 years).
points must be determined to develop the allowable stress
 Method C — Design by Short-Term Testing.
envelope: SA(0:1), the allowable longitudinal tensile stress with
Allowable stresses are determined using the results of
no coincident hoop stress; and SA(2:1), the allowable
short-term hoop and axial tensile testing. The allowable
longitudinal tensile stress with coincident hoop stress equal in
stresses shall be not greater than one-sixth of the LDV
magnitude to twice that of the longitudinal stress. Additional

4 Copyright © 2018 by ASME