Report on flexibility Analysis:To overcome determimental effects, a pipe can cause in itself or attached equipment due to thermal expansions,

precautionary measures in the form of flexibility must be supplied to the pipe. Thermal effects on a pipe will be here dealt under the following headings, Stress range:Stresses are produced in the pipe as a consequence of thermal expansion, which (if of sufficient initial magnitude) are relieved off in the hot condition due to yielding. If the pipe is subjected to cold condition, reversed stresses appear in the pipe and this phenomena is termed as self-springing. The magnitude of self springing depends on following parameters1) Magnitude of stresses Induced during fabrication. 2) The maximum working temperature. 3) Elapsed time. The stresses get relieved after some time in the hot/cold condition, but after imparting expansion/contraction strain in the pipe. The sum of these hot and cold strains is always nearly constant which is referred to as strain range. In order to work within the safe strain range, a stress range is selected as a criteria for the thermal design of pipe. Local Overstrain:Local overstrain means exceedance of yield strain at any local (arbitrary) region along the pipe. If yielding occurs comparatively uniformly along the pipe then piping flexibility

analysis is generaly carried out by presuming elastic behaviour of the whole pipe run. This assumption becomes void when certain locations or regions along the pipe are subjected to premature yielding as compared to the remaining portion of the pipe. Such systems that exhibit local overstrain are referred as unbalanced systems. This unbalancing can arise by, 1) Employing small pipes in series with larger or stiffer pipe. 2) Local reduction in size or x-section or use of weaker material. 3) C* This local overstraining can be mitigated by the use of ductile materials or through cold-springing. Flexibility:To prevent failure of the pipe due to the thermal effects, flexibility should be provided by changes of direction in the piping through the use of bends, loops, offsets etc. Coldspringing is also an essential part in flexibility. Analysis method:Pipes should be subjected to analysis if follwoing criterion are not met, 1) The piping system is a replica of an already installed succesful system or of that with a good service record. 2) On comparison with previously analyzed systems, adequate similarity is found. 3)The piping system is of uniform size, has not more than two anchors and no intermediate restraints, is designed for essentially noncyclic service (less than 7000 total cycles), and satisfies the following approximate criteria,

DY/(L-U2)<= 208.3 where, D = nominal pipe size (mm) Y = resultant of movements to be absorbed by pipe lines (mm) L = developed length of line axis (m) U = anchor distance (length of straight line joining anchors) (m) Analysis method can be analytical, model tests, and chart methods which provide an evaluation of the forces, moments and stresses caused by bending and torsion from the simultaneous consideration of terminal and intermediate restraints to thermal 'expansion of the entire piping system under consideration, and including all external movements transmitted to the piping by its terninal and intermediate attachments. In calculating the flexibility of a piping system between anchor points, the system between anchor points shall be treated as a whole. The significance of all parts of the line and of all restraints, such as supports or guides, including intermediate restraints introduced for the purpose of reducing moments and forces on equipment or small branch lines, shall be considered. Flexibility calculations shall take into account stress intensifying conditions found in components and joints. Credit may be taken when extra flexibility exists in such components. The reaction forces that act in the hot and cold condition in a piping system having no cold spring or equal percentage in all directions are given as, Rh = [1-(2/ 3)C] [(Eh/Ec)R] Rc = -CR or -[1-(Sh/Se)(Ec/Eh)]R (the greater one will be picked) where, C = cold spring factor varying from zero for no cold spring to

1.00 for 100%cold spring. SE = computed thermal expansion stress range, Ec = modulus of elasticity in the cold condition, Eh = modulus of elasticity in the hot condition, R = maximum reaction for full expansion range based on Ec which assumes the most severe condition (100% cold spring, whether such is used or not), Rc, Rh = maximum reactions estimated to occur in the cold and hot conditions, respectively. If, however, varying percentage of cold spring is provided along different directions then the above two equations will not remain valid. In such cases, hot reactions will be computed on the basis of theoretical cold springs that should not exceed two third of the cold springs measured or specified.