Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Piping Technology & Products, Inc. FEA and Custom Pipe Support Design

Over the 40+ years, no company has done more custom design work on Pipe Supports than PT&P.  We have done work for most major EPCs as well as many Operating Plants.  In fact, we started the business by custom designing a thick-walled Expansion Joint for Dow Plaquemine.  PT&P utilizes ANSYS software for doing FEA and thermal analysis.  PT&P has done FEA work with a wide variety of materials including:

  • Carbon Steel
  • Stainless Steel
  • Super Alloys (Monel 400, Hastelloy, etc.)
  • Micarta
  • Calcium Silicate
  • Foam

One of the big advantages of PT&P is that not only can we do FEA, we can also manufacture and test our designs even at extreme loads or extreme temperatures. Figure A below shows examples of custom design, FEA Analysis, and testing that has been done by PT&P.

Figure A – Extreme Scenarios of FEA

Our testing capabilities include:

  • Continuous Load Testing to 100K lbs
  • Impulse load testing to 125K lbs
  • Cyclical load testing to 50K lbs
  • Cryogenic and High-Temperature testing

Case Study #1: Closure Flange Hinge Support (CFSH)

PT&P invented the Closure flange hinge support (CFSH) for supporting a medium to heavy-duty blind flange. It consists of either a permanent hinge assembly or a removable hinge assembly. These blind flanges are used in ships, tanks, pipelines, heat exchangers, etc. The uniqueness of this invention is the expanded bolting mechanism between hinge assembly and flange that allows swing of the blind flange without the help of a crane or heavy lifting device. It can be used on a wide range of blind flanges of any size as well as customized blind flanges.

Figure 1 – Closure Flange Hinge Support
Closure Flange Hinge Support Product  specification:

Type: Permanent
Flange type: 36” pipe size, Class #900
Blind flange weight:  1814 lb.
Material: A 240 GR 304
Load-carrying capacity: 3628 lb

Figure 2 below shows the Finite Element Analysis conducted for this product.  In its installation, the product was approved by one of the world’s largest EPCs and hundreds of units were installed in a new plant build.

Figure 2 – Finite Element Analysis for CFSH

Fea Cfsh


Case Study #2: Custom Pipe Clamp

Figure 3 below shows a custom-sized pipe clamp supporting a 47,500 load at 1015 degrees F.

Figure 3 – Custom Pipe Clamp

Custom Pipe Clamp Design

Figure 4 shows the FEA for this pipe clamp.

Figure 4 – FEA for Custom Pipe Clamp

Ptp Fea Custom Pipe Clamp


Case Study #3:  Custom Riser Clamp for Elbow

In situations where the use of a welded lug attachment would create an undesirable crushing effect on the pipe wall, this clamp can transfer the load from the pipe wall to the riser clamp by means of hold-down lugs welded to the pipe.

Figure 5 – Custom Riser Clamp for Elbow

Ptp Custom Riser Clamp For Elbow

Figure 6 – Custom Riser Clamp for Elbow FEA Analysis

Ptp Custom Riser Clamp For Elbow Fea


Case Study #4: Custom Rectangular Expansion Joint

PT&P provided a design for a custom universal rectangular joint to be fitted between the steam turbine and its condenser (exhaust).  The design conditions were full vacuum@250 deg F, 0.43 inches lateral movement.  The universal expansion was internally braced (10 in NPS xs pipe, 1-1/2 in wall thickness of the centerline spool).  Figure 7 and Figure 8 show the design and associated stress analysis.

Figure 7 – Custom Universal Rectangular Expansion Joint

Ptp Custom Universal Expansion Joint

Figure 8 – FEA for Custom Rectangular Expansion Joint

Ptp Fea Custom Universal Expansion Joint

PT&P has extensive in-house finite element analysis capabilities using ProEngineer, ANSYS, and a variety of other software packages.

Fea01
Fea02
Fea03
Fea04
Fea05
Fea06

See this detailed analysis of a transition piece for a sample of our work.


If you have any questions about PT&P’s Pipe Stress Analysis services, please email us at info@pipingtech.com

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