Problem:

What options are available in the CADAP.MAP file while importing an AutoPLANT  / OpenPLANT PXF model into AutoPIPE? 

Solution:

As mentioned in AutoPIPE help: 

Help > Contents> Search Tab> enter "PXF Import Options" (include the quotes), press List Topics button, double click on the selected topic from the list provided to see more information.

Note: see WIKI here for details on where file is located

The [OPTIONS] section is placed at the beginning of the CADAP.MAP for easy access. The CADAP.MAP file can be opened by any text editor, (i.e. MS Word, Ultra Edit, Notepad, etc..).

The following options are implemented:

[OPTIONS]

'SHIFT ORIGIN (0,0,0) TO FIRST POINT IN MODEL ' 'Y'

'INVERT X,Z WHEN Y IS VERTICAL ' 'N'

'PLACE ONE SUPPORT PER LOCATION ' 'N'

'SET VSTP TO INCL IF VSTP IS NOT VERTICAL ' 'Y'

'CONVERT ALL SUPPORTS TO VERTICAL SUPPORTS ' 'N'

'IMPORT ALL POINTS OF TEES AND CROSSES ' 'Y'

'IMPORT BASE ELBOW SUPPORT AS PIPE ' 'Y'

'GET TAG FROM OTHER SUPPORT AT POINT IF BLANK ' 'Y'

'ALLOW PIPE TO MOVE UP AT VSTOPS ' 'Y'

'ALLOW PIPE TO MOVE UP AT GUIDES ' 'N'

'RETAIN FLANGE LENGTH ' 'N'

'FRICTION FACTOR FOR VSTOPS AND GUIDES ' '0.35'

'IGNORE OUTER DIAMETER (inches) LESS THAN ' '1.40'

The options are read until an end of file, a blank line, or a line filled with '/////' is read.

'SHIFT ORIGIN (0,0,0) TO FIRST POINT IN MODEL '

The default value is 'Y' and that will set point A00 coordinates to zero. This is done to avoid having numerical inaccuracy if the coordinates are large. AutoPIPE uses single precision for coordinates (6-7 digits of precision). After PXF import,the user can view the A00 shift using View/AutoPLANT PXF Data and may be able to edit A00 to shift the coordinates.

To shift coordinates to coincide with AutoPLANT after import, use Modify/Point/A00 and enter the new coordinates. Make sure to select the option Apply offsets to following points. The coordinates shift can be read from View/AutoPLANT PXF Data.

For better reference between AutoPLANT and AutoPIPE, it is recommended that the 'SHIFT ORIGIN …' option be set to 'N' and the vertical axis set to Z upon import. This causes AutoPIPE and AutoPLANT coordinates to be the same. This should be avoided when AutoPLANT coordinates exceeds 7 digits in ft. (xxxxx.xx ft).

'INVERT X,Z WHEN Y IS VERTICAL '

When set to YES, this option scales all X and Z coordinates by -1, if Y is the vertical axis. Otherwise it has no effect.

'PLACE ONE SUPPORT PER LOCATION '

By default ('N'), AutoPIPE will place multiple supports, if present, at the same location. AutoPIPE will avoid duplicate supports. For example if two VSTPs are placed at same location, only one is imported. Also if a guide and a VSTP are placed at the same node the VSTP is ignored. The same applies to INCL supports. This option if 'Y', will ignore all supports at the same node, except for one.

'SET VSTP TO INCL IF VSTP IS NOT VERTICAL '

AutoPIPE will, by default (YES), check the support orientation for VSTP supports. If the support is not vertical, an INCL support is used instead. The user has an option to keep the VSTP vertical by setting this option to 'N'.

'CONVERT ALL SUPPORTS TO VERTICAL SUPPORTS '

This option will make all supports as vertical supports if set to 'Y'. This will force one support per location to avoid duplicate supports. The default is 'N'.

'IMPORT ALL POINTS OF TEES AND CROSSES '

The option to import all points of tees and crosses, will override the component mapping options for items types 3 and 4. The use of all nodes is useful, when the tee/cross has a different schedule or material. Since the material is size dependent,as per CADAP.MAP material table, the tee material would need to be updated in AutoPIPE. If this option is set to 'N', only the tee/cross intersection point is imported.

'IMPORT BASE ELBOW SUPPORT AS PIPE '

The option to import base elbows as pipes will make the support mapping option for BES (Base Elbow Support) obsolete. When base elbows are imported as pipes, a VSTOP is placed at the ground point. The pipe support connects at a point very close to the bend near or far points, depending on BES orientation thru a tee junction. The pipe schedule for the BES support is assumed STD. The pipe size is specified by the field mapping name in the class mapping table. The class mapping to 'BES 2135', specifies PXF code 2135 as the outside diameter for the support. When 'N' is selected, a VSTOP is placed at bend midpoint. If BES is normal to bend plane, a VSTOP is placed at bend mid point, regardless of this option value.

The user is advised to check and update the pipe properties of the Base Elbow Support after import.

'GET TAG FROM OTHER SUPPORT AT POINT IF BLANK '

The option will set support tag number, if blank, to the non-blank tag number of another support at the same location. The default is 'Y'. If 'N', blank support tags will remain blank.

'ALLOW PIPE TO MOVE UP AT VSTOPS '

If 'Y', the gap will be set 1000 inches for English units and 1000 mm for SI units if the supports can move up. The units are based on the generated NTL file input units.

'ALLOW PIPE TO MOVE UP AT GUIDES '

If 'Y', the gap will be set 1000 inches for English units and 1000 mm for SI units if the supports can move up. The units are based on the generated NTL file input units.

'RETAIN FLANGE LENGTH '

If 'Y', program inserts a new node point per respective flange length in PXF file and displays a different flange symbol
If 'N, original flange symbol would be inserted at a single node point. 

'FRICTION FACTOR FOR VSTOPS AND GUIDES '

The default friction factor is 0.35. This can be scaled in AutoPIPE using the friction scale factor in the nonlinear analysis dialog.

'IGNORE OUTER DIAMETER (inches) LESS THAN '

This option if '1.40', by default, will cause AutoPIPE to ignore pipes with outside diameters less than 1.40 inches (i.e. all 1" nominal and smaller pipes. This is useful as the smaller pipes very often do not require stress analysis. Set to '0.00' to import all pipe sizes.

Note:  Also note in AutoPIPE help on this very page is a link to Limitations (PXF import). See AutoPIPE help for a list of PXF import limitations.

See Also

Import and Export - AutoPIPE

Bentley AutoPIPE