PR-3-39-R01 Flexibility and Stress Intensification Factors of Piping Components with Moment Loading

This report is concerned primarily with a review and evaluation of the more recent experimental and theoretical information on the characteristics of pipeline components (e.g., elbows and tees) as that information relates to the general problem of a piping flexibility analysis and to present piping code tables of flexibility and stress intensification factors. Stresses in piping components due to internal pressure are not covered herein. The information presented is categorized as:

(1) Load-displacements relationship, presented in the form of flexibility factors.

(2) Load-stress relationships, presented in the form of stress intensification factors.

A second objective of the report is to provide an introduction to the significance and use of flexibility and stress intensification factors in piping systems for those readers who may not be familiar with the subject. The report is organized partially from this consideration; the sections on “Background”, “Flexibility Factors, General Discussion”, and “Stress Intensification Factors, General Discussion” and the final section on “Applications11are intended to provide some background for readers who may be unfamiliar with the subject.