1.

WW+HP

HYD

b. Operating case: When operation starts working fluid will flow

through the piping at a temperature and pressure. So accordingly our
operating load cases will be as mentioned below:
2.
W+T1+P1
case
3.
W+T2+P1
temperature case
4.
W+T3+P1
temperature case

OPE

for operating temperature

OPE

for maximum system

OPE

for minimum system

c. Sustained Case: Sustained loads will exist throughout the plant

operation. Weight and pressure are known as sustained loads. So our
sustained load case will be as follows:
5.

W+P1

SUS

d. Occasional Cases: Piping may be subjected to occassional wind and

seismic forces. So to check stresses in those situations we have to build
the
following load cases:
6.
W+T1+P1+WIN1
Considering wind from +X direction
7.
W+T1+P1+WIN2
Considering wind from -X direction
8.
W+T1+P1+WIN3
Considering wind from +Z direction
9.
W+T1+P1+WIN4
Considering wind from -Z direction
10.
W+T1+P1+U1

OPE
OPE
OPE
OPE
OPE

Considering seismic from +X direction

11.
W+T1+P1-U1
Considering seismic from -X direction
12
W+T1+P1+U2
Considering seismic from +Z direction
13
W+T1+P1-U2
Considering seismic from -Z direction

OPE
OPE
OPE

While stress analysis the above load cases form load case 6 to load case
13 is generated only to check loads at node points.
To find occasional stresses we need to add pure occassional cases with
sustained load and then compare with code allowable values. Following
sets of load cases are built for that purpose.
14.
L6-L2
OCC
Pure wind from
+X direction
15.
L7-L2
OCC
Pure wind from
-X direction
16.
L8-L2
OCC
Pure wind from
+Z direction
17.
L9-L2
OCC
Pure wind from
-Z direction
18.
L10-L2
OCC
Pure seismic from
+X direction
19.
L11-L2
OCC
Pure seismic from
-X direction
20.
L12-L2
OCC
Pure seismic from
+Z direction
21.
L13-L2
OCC
Pure seismic from
-Z direction

22.
L14+L5
wind+Sustained
23.
L15+L5
wind+Sustained
24.
L16+L5
wind+Sustained
26.
L18+L5
seismic+Sustained
27.
L19+L5
seismic+Sustained
28.
L20+L5
seismic+Sustained
29.
L21+L5
seismic+Sustained

OCC

Pure

OCC

Pure

OCC

Pure

OCC

Pure

OCC

Pure

OCC

Pure

OCC

Pure

Load cases from 22 to 29 will be used for checking occasional stresses

with respect to code B 31.3 allowable (=1.33 times Sh value from code).
Use scalar combination for load cases 22 to 29 above and algebraic
combination for others as shown in figure attached below:
e. Expansion Case: Following load cases are required for checking
expansion stress range as per code
30.
31.
32.
33.

L2-L5
L3-L5
L4-L5
L3-L4

EXP
EXP
EXP
EXP

The above load cases (from 30 to 33) are used to check expansion stress
The above mentioned load cases are minimum required load cases to
analysis any stress system. Out of the above load cases the load cases
mentioned in point number 1, 5, and 22-33 are used for stress check.

And load cases mentioned in point number 1 to 13 are used for checking
restraint forces, displacements and nozzle load checking.
Few additional load cases may be required for PSV connected systems,
Rotary equipment connected systems.
Seismic and Wind analysis may not be required every time. So those
load cases can be deleted if the piping system does not fall under the
purview of seismic and wind analysis by project specification. However
to perform wind and seismic analysis proper related data must have to be
entered in Caesar II spreadsheet (Will be discussed in my future posts).
If the stress system involves use of imposed displacements (D) and
forces (F) then those have to be added with the above load cases in the
form of D1, D2 or F1, F2 as applicable.
It is a better practice to keep
1. Hydro and sustained stresses below 60% of code allowable
2. Expansion and occasional stresses below 80% of code allowable
3. Sustained sagging below 10 mm for process lines and below 3 mm for
steam, two phase and flare lines
4. Design/Maximum displacement below 75 mm for unit piping and
below 200 mm in rack piping.

Basic Load Cases used for Piping

Stress Analysis

Following steps shall be carried for Piping Stress Analysis of any system,
1.
Identify the Critical lines from the P&ID based on the criteria mentioned
in the Piping Stress Analysis Design Basis.
2.

Prepare a Stress Critical Line list

3.

Categorize the lines as Category-1 (Extensive computer analysis

required), Category-2 (Visual Analysis or by Nomo graphs, etc.) and
Category-3 (Non-critical lines)

4.

Segregate the Category-1 lines and identify Stress systems.

Segregation should be made in such a way that proper boundary
conditions can be defined for those lines. Also lines which can affect the
behavior of the system significantly should be selected. Depending on the
configurations Category-2 and Category-3 lines may also be included in
the Piping system

5.

Select a system for the analysis based on the priority or project

requirement

6.

List down the lines to be included in the system

7.

Check if all the parameters of the lines are available,

o

Maximum Design Temperature & Pressure

Operating Temperature & Pressure

Minimum Design Temperature & Pressure

Test Pressure

2. Check if any Occasional loading is applicable for the selected system,

o

Wind Loading

Seismic Loading

PSV reaction forces

3. Note down environmental Data of the project,

o

Ambient Temperature

4. Once the modeling of the system is done in the Caesar-II using all the
above data, next important activity is to formulate the load cases for
which the system is to be analyzed
5. List down all the possible conditions the selected system may experience.
6. Load Cases for a piping system is given below,

CASE: 1 Basic parameters and no occasional loading

Following parameters will be used for formulating the load cases,
WW =
Water filled weight

HP
W
P1
P2
P3
T1
T2
T3

=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=

Hydro test Pressure

Dead weight of the Piping system
Maximum Design Pressure
Operating Pressure
Minimum Design Pressure
Maximum Design Temperature
Operating Temperature
Minimum Design Temperature

Case No.

Load Case

Stress Type

L1

WW+HP

HYDRO

L2

W+T1+P1

OPE

L3

W+T2+P2 (P1 can be used in this case)

OPE

L4

W+T3+P3 (P1 can be used in this case)

OPE

L5

W+P1

SUS

L6

L2-L5

EXP

L7

L3-L5

EXP

L8

L4-L5

EXP

L9

L2-L4

EXP

CASE: 2 Basic Parameters with Wind loading

Following parameters will be used for formulating the load cases,
WW =
Water filled weight
HP
=
Hydro test Pressure
W
=
Dead weight of the Piping system
P1
=
Maximum Design Pressure
P2
=
Operating Pressure
P3
=
Minimum Design Pressure
T1
=
Maximum Design Temperature
T2
=
Operating Temperature
T3
=
Minimum Design Temperature
WIN1 =
Wind Load in +X direction (direction is just for example user can
use this
terminology for any other direction as per his ease)
WIN2 =
Wind Load in X direction (direction is just for example user can
use this
terminology for any other direction as per his ease)
WIN3 =
Wind Load in +Z direction (direction is just for example user can
use this
terminology for any other direction as per his ease)

WIN4 =
Wind Load in Z direction (direction is just for example user can
use this
terminology for any other direction as per his ease)
Case No.

Load Case

Stress Type

Combination Type

L1

WW+HP

HYDRO

Algebraic

L2

W+T1+P1

OPE

Algebraic

L3

W+T2+P2 (P1 can be used in this case)

OPE

Algebraic

L4

W+T3+P3 (P1 can be used in this case)

OPE

Algebraic

L5

W+P1

SUS

Algebraic

L6

W+T1+P1+WIN1

OPE

Algebraic

L7

W+T1+P1+WIN2

OPE

Algebraic

L8

W+T1+P1+WIN3

OPE

Algebraic

L9

W+T1+P1+WIN4

OPE

Algebraic

L10

L6-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L11

L7-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L12

L8-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L13

L9-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L14

L5+L10

OCC

Scalar

L15

L5+L11

OCC

Scalar

L16

L5+L12

OCC

Scalar

L17

L5+L13

OCC

Scalar

L18

L2-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L19

L3-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L20

L4-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L21

L2-L4

EXP

Algebraic

CASE: 3 Basic Parameters with Seismic loading

Following parameters will be used for formulating the load cases,
WW =
Water filled weight
HP
=
Hydro test Pressure
W
=
Dead weight of the Piping system
P1
=
Maximum Design Pressure

P2
=
Operating Pressure
P3
=
Minimum Design Pressure
T1
=
Maximum Design Temperature
T2
=
Operating Temperature
T3
=
Minimum Design Temperature
U1
=
Seismic loads also known as Uniform loads in terms of g in
North-South
Direction (direction is just for example user can use this terminology for any
other direction as per his ease)
U2
=
Seismic loads also known as Uniform loads in terms of g in
East-West
Direction (direction is just for example user can use this terminology for any
other direction as per his ease)
U3
=
Seismic loads also known as Uniform loads in terms of g in
Vertical
Direction (direction is just for example user can use this terminology for any
other direction as per his ease).
Generally vertical load due to seismic is negligible and not included in the
Load case formation.
Case No.

Load Case

Stress Type

Combination Type

L1

WW+HP

HYDRO

Algebraic

L2

W+T1+P1

OPE

Algebraic

L3

W+T2+P2 (P1 can be used in this case)

OPE

Algebraic

L4

W+T3+P3 (P1 can be used in this case)

OPE

Algebraic

L5

W+P1

SUS

Algebraic

L6

W+T1+P1+U1

OPE

Algebraic

L7

W+T1+P1-U1

OPE

Algebraic

L8

W+T1+P1+U2

OPE

Algebraic

L9

W+T1+P1-U2

OPE

Algebraic

L10

L6-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L11

L7-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L12

L8-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L13

L9-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L14

L5+L10

OCC

Scalar

L15

L5+L11

OCC

Scalar

L16

L5+L12

OCC

Scalar

L17

L5+L13

OCC

Scalar

L18

L2-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L19

L3-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L20

L4-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L21

L2-L4

EXP

Algebraic

CASE: 4 Basic Parameters with Wind &Seismic loading

Following parameters will be used for formulating the load cases,
WW =
Water filled weight
HP
=
Hydro test Pressure
W
=
Dead weight of the Piping system
P1
=
Maximum Design Pressure
P2
=
Operating Pressure
P3
=
Minimum Design Pressure
T1
=
Maximum Design Temperature
T2
=
Operating Temperature
T3
=
Minimum Design Temperature
WIN1 =
Wind Load in +X direction (direction is just for example user can
use this
terminology for any other direction as per his ease)
WIN2 =
Wind Load in X direction (direction is just for example user can
use this
terminology for any other direction as per his ease)
WIN3 =
Wind Load in +Z direction (direction is just for example user can
use this
terminology for any other direction as per his ease)
WIN4 =
Wind Load in Z direction (direction is just for example user can
use this
terminology for any other direction as per his ease)
U1
=
Seismic loads also known as Uniform loads in terms of g in
North-South
Direction (direction is just for example user can use this terminology for any
other direction as per his ease)
U2
=
Seismic loads also known as Uniform loads in terms of g in
East-West
Direction (direction is just for example user can use this terminology for any
other direction as per his ease)
U3
=
Seismic loads also known as Uniform loads in terms of g in
Vertical
Direction (direction is just for example user can use this terminology for any
other direction as per his ease).

Generally vertical load due to seismic is negligible and not included in the
Load case formation.
Case No.

Load Case

Stress Type

Combination Type

L1

WW+HP

HYDRO

Algebraic

L2

W+T1+P1

OPE

Algebraic

L3

W+T2+P2 (P1 can be used in this case)

OPE

Algebraic

L4

W+T3+P3 (P1 can be used in this case)

OPE

Algebraic

L5

W+P1

SUS

Algebraic

L6

W+T1+P1+WIN1

OPE

Algebraic

L7

W+T1+P1+WIN2

OPE

Algebraic

L8

W+T1+P1+WIN3

OPE

Algebraic

L9

W+T1+P1+WIN4

OPE

Algebraic

L10

W+T1+P1+U1

OPE

Algebraic

L11

W+T1+P1-U1

OPE

Algebraic

L12

W+T1+P1+U2

OPE

Algebraic

L13

W+T1+P1-U2

OPE

Algebraic

L14

L6-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L15

L7-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L16

L8-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L17

L9-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L18

L10-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L19

L11-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L20

L12-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L21

L13-L2

OCC

Algebraic

L22

L5+L14

OCC

Scalar

L23

L5+L15

OCC

Scalar

L24

L5+L16

OCC

Scalar

L25

L5+L17

OCC

Scalar

L26

L5+L18

OCC

Scalar

L27

L5+L19

OCC

Scalar

L28

L5+L20

OCC

Scalar

L29

L5+L21

OCC

Scalar

L30

L2-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L31

L3-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L32

L4-L5

EXP

Algebraic

L33

L2-L4

EXP

Algebraic

Classification of Pipe Supports Based

on Details, Constructions and Functions

Classification of Pipe Supports

Broadly the pipe supports are classified in three groups as per following
details / functions:
General details
Construction details
Functions ie. Purpose
These are described below in brief.

1. Pipe Supports Classification as per General Details:

A pipe line needs to be supported from a foundation or a structure. The
piping loads will be acting on these foundations / structures. Since these
foundations / structures are built on ground, they will exert an equal and
opposite reaction, while supporting the pipe.
In a pipe support, there will be some parts of support arrangement which is
directly attached to the pipeline and there will be some other parts which
shall be directly attached to the foundation / structure supporting the pipe.
As per this general detail the support is classified as:
1.1

Primary Supports:

It is the parts of support assembly which is directly connected to the pipe.

1.2

Secondary Supports:

It is the parts of support assembly which is directly connected to the

foundation / structure and is supporting the primary support attached to the
pipe line.

2. Pipe Supports Classification as per Construction:

Based on construction details, pipe supports are broadly classified in three
types, as

RIGID SUPPORTS
ELASTIC SUPPORTS
ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS
These are described below in brief.
2.1

Rigid Supports:

This type of support arrangement is generally very simple and has maximum
use in piping. It does not have adjustability to the erection tolerances. It will
directly rest on foundation or structure which is supporting the pipe.
Common type of RIGID SUPPORTS are shoe type (welded), shoe type (with
clamp) Trunnion type, valve holder type, support brackets (Secondary
Support). These are described under the topic Supports Generally used.
2.2

Elastic Supports:

This type of support is commonly used for supporting hot piping. It shall be
able to support pipes even when the pipe is moving up or down at support
point.
Common types of elastic supports are variable type spring supports, constant
type spring supports. These are described under the topic Supports
generally used .
2.3

Adjustable Supports:

This type of support is Rigid type in construction but is has few nuts and
bolts arrangements for adjusting the supports with respect to the actual
erected condition of pipe. The support can be adjusted for the erection
tolerances in the piping. These are required for a better supporting need at
critical locations of pipe supports.
Mostly all type of rigid supports can be modified by using certain type of nuts
and bolts arrangement, to make it as an Adjustable support.

Only a typical type of adjustable support is described under the topic

Supports Generally used.

3. Pipe Supports Classification as per Function (i.e. Purpose)

Pipe support classification as per function.

This may change based on project.
Pipe supports classified as per functions are summarized in the Table at
FIG.7. These are shown along with its basic construction, the symbols
generally used and type of restraints it offers to the piping system.
The supports classified as per function are further described as follows:
3.1

Loose Support:

This is most commonly used support meant for supporting only the pipe
weight vertically. It allows pipe to move in axial as well as transverse
direction but restricts only the vertical downward movement.

3.2

Longitudinal Guide:

This type of support is used to restrict the movement of pipe in transverse

direction i.e. perpendicular to length of pipe but allow movement in
longitudinal direction. This is also a commonly used type of support.
Generally it is used along with Loose support.
3.3

Transverse Guide:

This type of support is used to restrict the movement of pipe in longitudinal

(axial) direction but allows the pipe to move in transverse direction. This is
also referred as AXIAL STOP. This type is less used as compared to above
two types. Generally it is used along with Loose support.
3.4

Fixed point/Anchor:

FIX POINT type of support is used to restrict movements in all three

directions. ANCHOR type of support is used to restrict movement in all three
directions and rotation also in these three directions.
Non-Welded Type (Fix Point):
This can be considered as a combination of longitudinal and transverse
guide. This type resists only the linear movements in all directions but not
the rotational movements. This avoids heavy loading of support as well as
pipe. Therefore this type of support is preferred over welded type.
Welded Type (Anchor)
This type of support prevents total movements i.e. linear as well as
rotational. This type of support is used when it is absolutely essential to
prevent any moment/force being transferred further. It causes heavy loading
on support as well as pipe.
3.5

Limit Stop:

As name itself indicates it allows pipe movement freely upto a certain limit
and restricts any further movement. This is useful when total stops causes
excessive loading on piping and support or nozzle.
This type of support should be used selectively, because of stringent and
complicated requirements of design, erection and operation.
3.6

Special Supports:

When we need a pipe support whose construction or functional details are

different from the available details, then a special support detail sketch is
prepared. The functions of this support can be any combination of above
functions.