BUILDING STATIC LOAD

CASES FOR LINEAR & NON-

LINEAR SUPPORTS

-M. Manoharan
-S. Sureshkumar
-Kiran Sakroji
 INDEX
• Introduction
• Execution of Analysis
• Types of Loads
• Linear & Non-Linear Restraints
• Combination Methods
• Excel Sheet – Linear Restraints
• Excel Sheet – Non-Linear Restraints
• Conclusion
 INTRODUCTION
• LOAD CASE:

– Group of loads analyzed together and assumed to be occurring

at same time.

• Types Load Cases:

Load Case

Basic Load Case Combination Load Case

 INTRODUCTION…(Contd)
• Basic Load Case:

– Consist of Single Load or several loads added together.

– Recommended by Caesar by default.

• Example: Sustained Loads, Operating Loads, Expansion Loads.

• Combination Load Case:

– Consists of combination of other load cases. (Except Basic Load

cases)

• Example: Sustained + Occasional (Wind/Seismic)

 INTRODUCTION…(contd.)
• In Caesar II, user can define up to 99 load cases.

• All Basic or Non-combination load cases have to be

defined, BEFORE Combination Load cases are defined.

• Load components in a load case can be preceded by

scale factors, based on the risk associated with such
load components.

• Example: W + T1 + P1 + 2.0F1

• Example: 0.5W + T1 + P1 + 2.5F1

 EXECUTION OF ANALYSIS
• Static Analysis is performed as per Finite
Element Method.

• Each Element Stiffness are combined to form

Global system stiffness matrix.

• System Deflections and rotations are calculated,

which are further combined with element
stiffness to determine Global forces and
moments at the end of each element.
 EXECUTION OF ANALYSIS…
(Contd)

• Global Forces and Moments are calculated for each

element, using the relationship:

• Force = Stiffness x Displacement

• Moment = Force x Length

• This procedure is repeated for each load case, to find the

overall forces and moments for each element.

• All the system results are then stored in a file with

extension “_p”
 TYPES OF LOADS
• W – Dead Weight – Pipe weight, Insulation
Weight, Fluid Weight, Rigid Weight.

• WNC – Weight No Contents – Pipe weight,

Insulation weight, Rigid Weight.

• WW – Water Filled Weight – Pipe weight,

Insulation weight, water-filled weight, Rigid
Weight.
 TYPES OF LOADS…(Contd)
• T – Temperature (Up to 9 cases)

• P – Pressure (Up to 9 cases)

• HP – Hydro Pressure

• D – Displacement Vector (Up to 9 vectors)

• F – Force and Moment Vector (Up to 9 Vectors)

 TYPES OF LOADS…(Contd)
• WIN – Wind Loads (In 4 directions)

• WAV – Wave Loads (In 4 directions, Dynamic

Analysis)

• U – Uniform Loads (In 3 directions)

• H – Hanger Initial Loads

 LINEAR & NON-LINEAR
RESTRAINTS
• Until a decade back, piping systems were analyzed
assuming linear behavior. i.e., System returns to its
original shape after the loads cease to act.

• Later it was seen, that, under certain conditions, piping

systems showed non-linear behavior. i.e., System does
not return to its original shape and a plastic deformation
occurs.

• Hence it was necessary to analyze the systems with

linear and non-linear supports in a different fashion and
provide different set of load cases for analysis.
 LINEAR & NON-LINEAR
RESTRAINTS
• Linear Restraints:

• Force is a function of Stiffness and Displacement.

• Force = Stiffness x Displacement.

• Supports are assumed to take load throughout the

operating cycle of the system.

• Thus, All the Restraints will provide force, which would

be linear, as per above relationship and hence the name
“Linear Restraints”
 LINEAR & NON-LINEAR
RESTRAINTS…(Contd.)

• Characteristics of Linear Restraints:

– No Lift off supports allowed.

– No Guide Gaps allowed.

– Piping system is expected to behave linearly, i.e., obey Hooke’s

law.

– The system is expected to return to its original configuration,

once the loads have been removed.
 LINEAR & NON-LINEAR
RESTRAINTS…(Contd.)
• Non-Linear Restraints:

• Some Supports might lift up, based on configuration and

temperature.

• Due to lift up of supports, the stiffness value becomes

Zero, indicating no force on the Restraints.

• Thus, “Stiffness-Displacement” Relationship becomes

Non-Linear, and hence the name “Non-Linear
Restraints”.
 LINEAR & NON-LINEAR
RESTRAINTS…(Contd.)
• Characteristics of Non-Linear Restraints:

– Supports are allowed to lift up.

– Guides are provided with Gaps.

– The piping system is expected to undergo plastic deformation,

and will not return to its original configuration.

– The system doesn’t converge easily, due to absence of stiffness

at some supports which lift up.
 COMBINATION METHODS
METHODS

Algebraic (ALG)

Scalar

SRSS

Absolute (ABS)

Others

MAX

MIN

SIGNMAX

SIGNMIN
COMBINATION METHODS…(Contd)
• Algebraic Method:

– Combines Displacements, Forces, Moments, Restraint

Loads and Pressures in algebraic (Vectorial) manner.

– Algebraic Method is to be used only for combination of

Basic Load cases.

– Since Expansion Case is built from Operating (Basic Case)

and Sustained (Basic Case), ALGEBRAIC METHOD is
used for Expansion Case.

– Note: New combination cases use this method by default,

unless the user changes it manually.
COMBINATION METHODS…(Contd)
• Scalar Method:

– Combines Displacements, Forces, Moments, Restraint

Loads in scalar manner i.e by retaining the signs.

– Since the wind forces are given in + & - directions, the

scalar method is used to combine Sustained and Wind
Cases.

• Example: Sustained + Wind… For Occasional Stress

• Example: Operating + Wind… For Occasional Loads.

COMBINATION METHODS…(Contd)
• SRSS Method:

– Combines Displacements, Forces, Moments,

Restraint Loads and stresses in Square Root of
the Sum of Squares (SRSS) manner.

– Typically used for combining Seismic loads

acting in orthogonal directions.

• Example: U1 + U2 + U3
COMBINATION METHODS…(Contd)
• Absolute Method (ABS):

– Combines Displacements, Forces, Moments, Restraint Loads and

stresses in Absolute Manner.

– The Negative Values and Positive Values will have no effect on the
results.

– Since Seismic load factors are specified without any direction,

Absolute method is used for Occasional code stress check.

• Example: Sustained + Seismic… For Stress Check.

• Example: Operating + Seismic… For Support Loads Check.

– Note: This method is also used for Stress Range Check

between positive and Negative Design Temperature.
COMBINATION METHODS…(Contd)
• MAX: This method determines the MAXIMUM ABSOLUTE value for
displacement, force, moment, Restraint load, and Stress for a given set of load
cases. i.e., Determines the Worst Load Case.

• MIN: This method determines the MINIMUM ABSOLUTE value for

displacement, force, moment, Restraint load, and Stress for a given set of load
cases.

• SIGNMAX: This method determines the MAXIMUM ACTUAL value for

displacement, force, moment, Restraint load, and Stress, for a given set of
load cases, considering the sign (+ or -).

• SIGNMIN: This method determines the MINIMUM ACTUAL value for

displacement, force, moment, Restraint load, and Stress, for a given set of
load cases, considering the sign (+ or -).

• In all the above methods, no combination takes place. Hence no loads

are added or subtracted, rather a range of load cases is considered.
LOAD CASES WITH LINEAR
RESTRAINTS
LOAD CASES WITH NON-
LINEAR RESTRAINTS
 CONCLUSION
• Results with Linear Restraints will differ significantly,
compared to Non-Linear Restraints.( Due to friction,
guide gaps etc)

• Non-Linear Restraints provide a more better and real

world situation.

• Combination methods need to be looked into more

cautiously, since they dictate the results of analysis to a
greater extent.

• The Excel sheets provided, will serve as guideline for

performing analysis for different project philosophies.