PIPE FEA USING ANSYS

FEA and ANSYS

 Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
 A numerical technique used for finding approximate
solution of physical problems
 Only through the use of modern day computers, FEA
becomes effective and practical
 ANSYS
 The FEA software widely used in the industry, one of
Hatch’s main FEA software.
 Two interfaces: classical and Workbench share the core
solvers
 Workbench is easy to use, best suited for 3D modeling
 Classical is more powerful, gives the user more flexibilities
ANSYS Classical
ANSYS Workbench
FEA procedures
Pipe System To Be Analyzed
 Long, large diameter, thin walled steel
pipes
 Lined with refractory and insulations
 There is no other external loads except
for self weight
 The pipes will see thermal growth at
start up
 The roof of the bins may also move due
to thermal expansion at start up
FEA decisions
 3D SOLID elements? – the model is too big!
 2D SHELL elements? – possible, but still fairly
expensive (in term of computing time and model
set up time)
 1D BEAM elements – quick and easy, accurate
results for reaction forces and moments, which
may be used in hand calculations for welds and
guidance for support selections.
 Detailed 3D / 2D sub models for Y-pipe section
and diverters may be analyzed using the 1D BEAM
model results.
FEA load cases
 The load steps the feed pipes may see:
 Erect
 Connect pipes to the bins
 Start up, temperature going up (max. 200 C)
 Production cycles

A good understanding of each

load step is essential for the
success of the analysis!
FEA load cases
 Load cases for the FEA model:
0 Run one load case to determine the preload
required from the Spring support and size the
spring
1. Room temperature; all support connected except
for the expansion joint; gravity load applied
2. Room temperature; all support connected
including the expansion joint; gravity load
applied
3. Uniform max. temperature applied on pipes; all
support connected including the expansion joint;
gravity load applied; bin roof thermal
movements applied
FEA for pipes

Mesh

Visual representation
“Skeleton” Line Model Beam Model of the beam model
FEA for pipes
 Element type
 PIPE16 (pipes and flanges): specialized BEAM element
 COMBIN14 (expansion joints & spring supports): Spring
elements
 LINK 10 (cable support, if applicable): tension only link
elements
 Real constants
 Each element is defined by Element Type and a set of real
constant values
 For example, “PIPE16 and Real constant set 2” tell ANSYS
these elements behave like a circular hollow beam,
OD=0.4064m, Wall thickness=0.0095m,…
 Material properties
 Mild steel
 Increase the density for the pipes to match the density of
pipe+refractory+insulation
FEA Results for Pipes
FEA Results for Pipes
 Displacement in all six degree of freedoms
at any node
 Reaction forces and moments at any node
 Various stress results (bending stress, axial
stress, shear stress, von-mises stress,
principle stress…) for all elements
 Physical properties of the model (volume,
mass, moment of inertia…) based on the
model geometry
Interpreting FEA results
 The underline theory for the BEAM model
is the same as we use in hand
calculations.
 The same limitation of BEAM theory
applies both in FEA and hand
calculations.
 Anything weren’t included in this BEAM
model from the beginning are not in the
results (diverter, Y pipe..)