What is the objective of stress analysis?

Answer:

1. To ensure that the stresses in piping components in the system are within
Allowable limits
2. To solve dynamic problems developed due to mechanical vibration, fluid
Hammer, pulsation, relief valves, etc
3. To solve problems associated due to higher or lower operating temperature such
as a) Displacement stress range b) Nozzle loading on connected equipments c) Pipe
displacements d) Loads & moments on supporting structure.
Selection Criteria For Lines Subject To Comprehensive Stress Analysis
As a general guidance, a line shall be subject to comprehensive stress analysis if it falls into any of the
following categories:
All lines at design temperature above 180C.
4" NPS and larger at design temperature above 130C.
16" NPS and larger at design temperature above 105C.
All lines which have a design temperature below -30C provided that the difference between the
maximum and minimum design temperature is above:
-190C for all piping
-140C for piping 4" NPS and larger
-115C for piping 16" NPS and larger
Note: These temperatures above are based on a design temperature 30C above maximum
operating temperature. Where this is not the case, 30C must be subtracted from values above.
Lines 3" NPS and larger with wall thickness in excess of 10% of outside diameter. Thin walled
piping of 20" NPS and larger with wall thickness less than 1% of the outside diameter.
All lines 3" NPS and larger connected to sensitive equipment such as rotating equipment.
However, lubrication oil lines, cooling medium lines etc. for such equipment shall not be
selected due to this item.
All piping subject to vibration due to internal forces such as flow pulsation and/or slugging or
external mechanical forces.
All relief lines connected to pressure relief valves and rupture discs.
All blowdown lines 2" NPS and larger excluding drains.
All piping along the derrick and the flare tower.
All lines above 3" NPS likely to be affected by movement of connecting equipment or by
structural deflection.
GRE piping 3" NPS and larger.
All lines 3" NPS and larger subject to steam out.
Long vertical lines (typical 20 meter and higher).
Other lines as requested by the stress engineer.
All production and injection manifolds with connecting piping.

Lines subject to external movements, such as abnormal platform deflections, bridge movements,
platform settlements etc.
Allowable stress range for expansion stresses
SA = f(1.25Sc + 0.25Sh)
Longitudinal Stress :
SL = Sh

Occasional condition :

SOCC = 1.15 Sh

Liberal Stress Allowable

A conservative formulation of the allowable expansion stress range for many codes in CAESAR II is
calculated from: f ( 1.25 Sc + .25 Sh )
When the user requests that the Liberal Allowable be used, the difference between Sh and Sl, provided
Sh >Sl, will be added to the term inside the parenthesis, i.e.
SA(Liberal) = f[ 1.25 Sc + .25 Sh + ( Sh - Sl) ]

The liberal expression will only be employed when there is at least one sustained stress case in the load
set. If there is more than one sustained stress case in a single problem, then the largest of Sl, considering
all of the sustained cases, for any single element end will be chosen to subtract from Sh. Because the
sustained stress varies from one pipe to another, the allowable expansion stress will also vary.
What are the different types of stresses that may get generated within pipe
during normal operation?
Ans: Axial Stresses (Tensile / Compressive), Shear Stresses, Radial Stresses, Hoopes Stresses.
What do you mean by Hoop Stresses and how do you calculate it?
Ans: Stresses which are generated circumferancially due to the action of Internal
pressure of pipe are called as Hoop Stress. It is calculated by
Hoop Stress (Sh) = Pdo / 2t
Where P = Force Acting from Inside.
Do = OD of Pipe.
t= Pipe Thickness.
How does Hoop Stress affect the system?
Ans: As per membrane theory for pressure design of cylinder, as long as hoop stress
is less than yield stress of Moc, the design is safe. Hoop stress induced by thermal
pressure is twice the axial stress (SL). This is widely used for pressure thickness, Calculation for pressure vessel.

Minimum Wall thickness calculation:

Expansion loop formula :

Pipes span calculation:

The maximum allowable spans for horizontal piping system are limited by three main factors: Vertical
deflection, bending stress, and natural frequency.
Span limitations:
By assuming a straight pipe beam, simply supported at both ends, the equations obtained are:
L= 0.33ZSh based on limitation of stress.

w
L= 40.33ZSh based on limitation of deflection.
22.5w
The end connection can also be assumed as a mean between uniformly loaded beam simply supported at
both ends and a uniformly loaded beam with both ends fixed.
L= 0.4ZSh based on limitation of stress.
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How do you calculate the pipe spacing?
Ans: Pipe Spacing (mm) = ( Do + Dt ) / 2 + 25mm + Thickness of Insulation (mm).
Where: D0 : OD of Small size Pipe (mm).
Dt : OD of Flange of Large size Pipe (mm).
What is the basic span of supports for 2/6/10/24 pipe.
Answer:
Basic Span is 5.5m / 9m / 11.5m / 15m respectively.

Standard for Equipments

API 560
API 618
API 616

: Fired Heaters
: Reciprocating Compressors
: Gas Turbines

Interview Questions
FW
1)

Temperature range from? 570c to -162c.

2)

Pipe size done so far? From 36 to 1.

3)

What you check in the results of a Caesar run?

4)

Expansion allowable stress?

5)

Stress intensification factor? How it is increased?

6)

Different types of loop?

7)

Hanger types?

8)

Sustained displacement criteria?

9)

Dif bet Anchor & 3 way restraint ?

10)

Piping support for a pump?

11)

Modeling 1000 nodes ? day

TP
1) Types of support?
2) Load case?
3) Expansion allowable stress?
4) Expansion joint?
5) What are the things you can check using CAESAR?
6) What you check in API-610 for a pump?
7) What will be the first support of a pump?
8) Column piping supporting?
9) Earthquake? What is G? Vertical earthquake?
10) Dynamic analysis?

FD

1. What you check in the results of a Caesar run?

2. Sustained stress?
3. Spring hangers? Constant spring hanger? Spring variation?
4. Necessary documents for stress analysis?
5. Load cases?
6. Expansion allowable formula?
7. Rack piping?
8. Example of piping sketch?
9. Types of equipments came across?
10. Hoop stress

BL
1) What you check in the results of a Caesar run?
2) Expansion loop?
3) SIF?
4) In a rest support how much the load in horizontal direction will act?
5) Expansion allowable formula?
TCS
1)

Sustained formula?

2)

Expansion formula?

3)

Occasional formula?

4)

Pipe spans formula?

5)

What is water hammer?

6)

What is cavitations? How does it occur?

7)

Supports came across?

8)

Necessary documents required for stress?

9)

Expansion loop formula?

10)

How u support in pipe rack?

CB&I
1)

Pipe size range ?

2)

Temperature limits?

3)

Piping Codes?

4)

Expansion allowable formula?

5)

Sustain allowable formula? Yield strength & Tensile strength?

6)

Occasional formula?

7)

What is Liberal stress?

8)

What are the LNG lines u have analyzed so far?

9)

LNG line temperature & Pressure? Pipe size & Schedule?

10) Types of compressor connected to the LNG line?