Stress Analysis of HDPE, PE-RT, PP-H, PP-R, PVC-C, PVDF Piping

Features of HDPE, PE-RT, PP-H, PP-R, PVC-C, PVDF

The main features of HDPE piping and other plastic piping related to steel piping are:

  • The allowable stress of plastic piping is dependent on service life and temperature. The equation is. The A, B, G, and J factors are stored in the Start-Prof material database
  • In some cases, swelling elongation due to a chemical reaction with the product should be considered. The swelling strain should be specified in the pipe properties
  • Linear expansion for plastic piping is much greater than for steel piping and caused by the Bourdon effect, thermal expansion, and swelling elongation
  • Pressure elongation of plastic piping is significant (Bourdon effect), and thermal expansion is also great.
  • Unlike steel piping, Young’s modulus (creep modulus) for plastic piping depends on service life. For higher service life – the lower creep modulus is used. The support loads, displacements, etc. are calculated at 100 minutes of creep modulus. The seismic analysis was performed using a 0.1-hour creep modulus.
  • In operating conditions, the average creep modulus is used (average between installation and operating temperature)
  • Allowable stress for plastic piping depends on the chemical resistance factor, laying condition factor, safety factor, and joint strength factor
  • The wall thickness check is performed only for straight pipes and not performed for fittings
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Modeling of HDPE pipe in Start-Prof

To model HDPE piping or other plastic piping choose GOST 32388 code:

Choosing the Piping Code
Choosing the Piping Code

Then create a pipe and choose the appropriate material from the database:

Selecting the Pipe Material
Selecting the Pipe Material

In an additional pipe, properties specify the chemical resistance factor (usually 1.0), Joint strength factor (0.4-1.0), and Laying conditions factor (0.8 for buried piping, 0.9 for underground piping in concrete channels, 1.0 for above-ground piping). The temperature range is multiplied by this factor. It considers the nonlinear distribution of temperature across the wall thickness. For plastic piping recommended value is 1.0 and for fiberglass piping 0.85 for fluid and 0.8 for gas if no other information is available.

The swelling strain is used for a chemical swelling elongation. It is the same as temperature elongation but caused by the chemical reaction between the pipe material and the product.

Allowable Stress Values
Allowable Stress Values

That’s all. All other job is the same as steel piping.

The Database contains all material properties. If there’s no material you need in the database, you can add its properties manually.

Adding the properties in Material Database
Adding the properties in Material Database

All load cases for analysis will be created automatically. After analysis, you get results according to the code.

Analysis Results
Analysis Results

Videos for HDPE Piping Stress Analysis in START-PROF

Part 1 of HDPE Piping Stress Analysis video:

Part 2 of HDPE Piping Stress Analysis Video:

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Download the HDPE piping example file. See how to open the piping model file

Alex Matveev

Alex Matveev is the head of the PASS/START-PROF pipe stress analysis software development team, which is developed since 1965. Also, He offers technical support and training for users of their software that number already 3000+, industry standard in several countries for 50+ years.

17 thoughts on “Stress Analysis of HDPE, PE-RT, PP-H, PP-R, PVC-C, PVDF Piping

  1. Hi, May i know what is allowable stress for PE100 (HDPE) pipe during installation above ground?
    Also what is allowable stress during hydrotest and operation conditions.
    Which codes can be referred to.
    Thank you

    1. Allowable stress depends on the temperature and service life. It calculated automatically using the characteristic equation. See “Thermoplastic Piping Systems” here
      https://www.passuite.com/kbase/doc/start/WebHelp_en/index.htm#t=materials.htm
      You just need to select the “PE 100” material in the pipe properties

  2. Hi Alex, Could you please let me know what is allowable stress for PE100 (HDPE) pipe during installation above the sea?
    Thank you very much.

    1. Hi! It calculated by code. Details in my training course: https://passuite.com/trainings/ondemand/start

  3. Hi Alex, currently we use horizonral directional drilling(HDD) to install the gas pipeline PE100(HDPE), can Start _Prof can calculate the pulling stress during HDD?

  4. Hi Alex.

    I’ve studying the Pipe Stress Analysis Course from PASSc and i get that the key is the GOST 32388 code. I only have CAESAR II in my company and clearly, it don’t have this code.

    Is possibly to incorporate it in CAESAR for HDPE to work?

    Regards, Tomas Gomez

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