A319.2.

2 Displacement Stresses
(a) Elastic Behavior. The assumption that displace
ment strains will produce proportional stress over a sufficiently wide range to justify an elastic stress
analysis is not
always valid for nonmetals. RTR and RPM piping shall be
designed for linear elastic behavior, having displacement
stresses proportional to displacement strains. In brittle
piping, strains initially will produce relatively large
elastic stresses. The total displacement strain must be
kept small, however, since overstrain results in failure
rather than plastic deformation. In thermoplastic
piping, strains generally will produce stresses of the overstrained (plastic) type, even at relatively low
values of
total displacement strain. If a method of flexibility analysis
that assumes elastic behavior is selected for thermoplastic
piping, the designer shall demonstrate its validity for the
piping system underconsideration and shallestablish safe
limits for computed stresses.
(b) Overstrained Behavior. Stresses cannot be considered proportional to displacement strains throughout
a
piping system in which an excessive amount of strain
may occur in localized portions of the piping [an unbalanced system; see para. 319.2.2(b)] or in which
elastic
behavior of the piping material cannot be assumed. Overstrain shall be minimized by system layout and
excessive
displacements shall be minimized by special joints or
expansion devices (see para. A319.7).
A319.2.3 Cold Spring. Cold spring is the intentional
deformation of piping during assembly to produce a
desired initial displacement or reaction. Cold spring
may be beneficial in serving to balance the magnitude
of the reaction under initial and extreme displacement
conditions. When cold spring is properly applied, there
is less likelihood of overstrain during initial operation.
There is also less deviation from as-installed dimensions
during initial operation, so that hangers will not be
displaced as far from their original settings. No credit
for cold spring is permitted in stress range calculations,
or in calculating thrusts and moments.
A319.3 Properties for Flexibility Analysis
A319.3.1 Thermal Expansion Data. Appendix C lists
coefficients of thermal expansion for several nonmetals.
More precise values in some instances may be obtainable
from manufacturers of components. If these values are to
be used in stress analysis, the thermal displacements shall
be determined as stated in para. 319.3.1.