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Attention: Please see the following AutoPIPE help section: Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Modeling Approaches> Modeling Approaches>This help has been provided in order to give users ideas for modeling typical piping arrangements. The steps shown in each example should not be taken as the only method available to create models. In addition, the intent of the examples is to present ways to create adequate models of specific piping components for analytically purposes. Anchors Bends Cuts Flexible Joints Frames Hangers Nozzles Pipes Reducers Rotating Equipment Supports Tees Valves Vessels
Answer: Model elbow as described above, at each end of the elbow where the elbow is welded to the pipe, Insert> Xtra Data> joint Type and User SIF> there are multiple "Joint Type" available As-Welded Butt Weld Flush Butt Weld As-Welded Butt Weld NB 4250 Transition Flush Butt Weld NB 4250 Transition As-Welded Butt Weld 1:3 Transition Flush Butt Weld 1:3 Transition Socket/Fillet WeldSelect the type of weld joint the best fits your requirements based on code description. In AutoPIPE, press toolbar icon "Show Joint Type", located on left toolbar near the bottom. Use this feature to clearly see where joint types have been applied, and review the "Joint Type, SIF" tab of the input grid for settings.
Answer: AutoPIPE's Bend Point dialog screen has a Bend radius field which defaults to Long radius with pull down option for short radius. You can either select short radius or, for a larger sweep elbow, click once on the Bend radius field and type the actual radius (units are in bottom right hand corner of screen).
Answer: A bend component is made up of 4 node points:A. Near Point - automatically generatedB. Tagent Interface Point (TIP) - user generatedC. Far Point - automatically generatedD. Mid Point (if enabled) - user specified between Near and Far Point.AutoPIPE does not allow users to insert the next node point or component between the Bend's Near and Far points. If done, the bend cannot be drawn and a error message (E732-3: Not enough clearance to fit bend xxx) will be mentioned in the Tools> Model Consistency check report.
Solution, the user must first enter a pipe run directly after an elbow whose length is just beyond the automatically generated Near OR Far points before adding the next piping component.
This means that there will be 2 points, a bend point and a run point, very close to one another. The should not be exactly in the same location, or another warning will be displayed about a zero length run (W726-6: Near zero length element at point XXX)
The same technique is used for inserting valves and other components directly after a tee, AutoPIPE requires that the user first input a run of pipe after the tee before inserting the component to model the leg / branch weld points of the tee.
AutoPPE will adjust the elbow's stiffness if it detects a flange or valve component within a defined distance from an elbow, see the next item below for more details: "Q4. When a flanged elbow is modeled in AutoPIPE, does it affect the stiffness of the elbow in the analysis? If so, how?"
Answer: Yes, the stiffness of an elbow is affected if the program detects a flange or valve component within a certain distance after and elbow. In AutoPIPE, please see the following help section for details on this distance:
Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Command Reference>Tools & Utility Commands>Model Options > Model Edit Options> Distance L/D from flange/valve to bend.
The effect of this setting on the flexibility factor can be seen in the Tools> Model Input Listing> Elbow Report. AutoPIPE's official training class covers this modeling approach and model option setting.
Again, Flanges or valves will increase the stiffness of the bend and flexibility and SIF factors are reduced due to preventing ovalling of the bend.
Answer: There is no command in AutoPIPE to split/insert a bend with multiple points. However, please see the following options available based on the version of AutoPIPE being used.
AutoPIPE V8i 09.05.xx.xx and Lower:
Option #1: Create a miter bend with as many cuts as desired. Please see the following AutoPIPE help section for details: Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Modeling Approaches> Modeling Approaches> Bend> Miter Bends> Model 2: 3 Cuts - Widely Spaced. Using Excel, calculate all
Option #2: Create the bend in AutoCAD and manually transfer each node point (DX, DY, DZ) coordinates to AutoPIPE as new bends are added.
AutoPIPE V8i 09.06.xx.xx and higher:
Option #1: All options available in AutoPIPE 9.5 and lower
Option #2: Create the bend in AutoCAD and import file using the new Import AutoCAD file procedure.
Option #3: (Preferred method) Create a ring main using the new Ring Main Wizard, after the ring main has been created, cut/copy/paste/move it to the correct location in the model
Answer: AutoPIPE fittings are made up of equivalent center-line length of straight pipe with assigned pipe properties. Change the pipe properties used to construct a fitting in order to account for different fitting weights.Reducer are the only exception, (from online help): Over the length of the reducer, AutoPIPE assumes an average of the connecting pipes for the outside diameter (Do), wall thickness (t). This affects the reducer weight, pipe contents weight, and section properties. Material properties (E, a, and allowable stresses) from the pipe at the near end of the reducer are extended to the far end of the reducer.
Answer: A pulled bend is a bend that is formed by a machine wrapping the pipe around a shoe horn form (i.e. like a tubing bender bending tubing) Using AutoPIPE Nuclear version, with piping codes ASME NB, NC, or ND selected, users can set Bend Type = Pulled.
For other version of AutoPIPE, Standard or Plus (Advanced), using non-nuclear piping codes, to model a pulled bend, select Bend Type = "elbow", SIF and flexibility factor will automatically be calculated but suggest that bourdon pressure effect be turned on (Tools> Model Options> Edit> "Include Bourdon rotational effect" check ON).One side effect of bending the work-piece is the wall thickness changes; the wall along the inner radius of the tube becomes thicker and the outer wall (extrafit) becomes thinner. AutoPIPE does not consider the different wall thickness. The wall thickness is a uniform value specified on the pipe properties dialog screen.
Answer: See the following options:
Option #1: see the following AutoPIPE help section: Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Modeling Approaches> Modeling Approaches> Bend> Miter Bends> Model 2: 3 Cuts - Widely Spaced, use the math formulas to layout the piping and insert the bends points s needed
Option #2: Construct the pipe layout to locate the intersect point of both piping runs connected to the bend (image below, BR02). After the straight pipe is layed out use Modify> Convert Point to..> Bend command, specify 6' diameter bend radius and AutoPIPE will automatically insert the bend correctly.
Option #3: In AutoPIPE 09.06.xx.xx and higher, use the ring main wizard, the ring is made CCW from the point, so create as a new segment and attach it after the ring has been made. OR, as the same segment careful to locate the ring center offset see following:
Results:
Answer: Yes, there are typically 2 types of bends in AutoPIPE:
a. Normal bend (any sized fillet radius between two intersecting pipe lengths).
b. Mitered bends (both closed and Wide)
Note:
1. AutoPIPE assumes the bend is constructed without any kinks and has a uniform wall thickness per the PipeID specified.
2. Any bend angle the is modeled out side of the applied Piping code will need to have a user calculated SIF applied to the bend points as needed.
3. The image on the left is acceptable bend but the bend on the right, although can be constructed, is not good modeling practice. Recommend creating a mitered bend.
Answer: Apply manufacture recommended SIF values or refer to a specific piping code for recommended SIF values to be applied (note: the intent on many ASME codes to use conservatively an SIF value = 2.1)
ASME Codes state the following regarding socket welds:
B31.1 use 1.3 for socket welds with no undercut, and 2.1 for all others.
B31.3 states "2.1 Max or 2.1 T/Cx but not less than 1.3. Cx is the fillet weld leg length"
B31.8 states "2.1 Max or 2.1 T/Cx but not less than 1.3. "
To apply this SIF to all bends and Tees perform the following:
To account for the extra weight of a 2000# to 9000# fitting:
Answer: With a nuclear piping code selected (i.e. ASME NB, NC, or ND, etc..), select the bend near or far point then select Insert> Xtra Data> Joint Type and User SIF> select the proper joint type or select User to enter all the indices values. press OK button when completed.
Press the SIF icon to show where SIF values are located:
Answer: This is by design, Bend data listing will show the code calculated SIF values. However, if a different SIF value was applied to a bend, the letter "u" is added directly after the value. As indicated at the bottom of the report, u = User sif present at the point, check user-SIF data listing.
In addition, reviewing the code compliance report shows:
Answer:
One method of creating a 3.00 degree mitered joint perform the following Steps:
a. Insert a bend pipe component, choose Bend Type = Close and Wide, cuts = 1, and set Dx=5.00 ft, Dy =0.00, Dz = 0.00
(note: the user is responsible for predetermining whether the miter bend is closely or widely spaced. The current version of AutoPIPE does not trap an incorrectly specified miter bend. see online help for more information on determining the bend type)
b. Insert a straight run of pipe exiting the bend. On the Run dialog, enable check-box labeled "User cylindrical coordinates system", Theta = 3.00 deg, Rad = 5.00 ft and press OK button to insert bend.
Done.
From a a plan view, see that run B06 - B07 is rotated 3.0 deg on the X-Y plane from the B05 - B06 pipe that is on the global X-axis.
Note: if the mitered bend in not facing the correct direction, modify the run end point B07, or select the run and rotate it about the pipe axis (X-axis in this example) to the correct direction.
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