bends – What Is Piping: All about Piping Engineering

What is Stress Intensification Factor or SIF? The term SIF (Stress Intensification Factor) is too confusing for many of the piping engineers. That's why the following article is taken to explain the bend SIFs in simple language. Every piping Engineer who possesses a little basic of the Piping Stress Analysis theory must be aware of the term SIF or Stress Intensification Factor. The term indicates a multiplier of Bending and Torsional stresses. This Intensifier acts locally to a piping Component ( tees, elbows, bends, Olets, etc) and Its value depends on component geometry. The minimum value of the SIF is 1.0. It is widely used by piping stress engineers in places where the actual stress calculation is quite difficult due to its difficult geometry (Varying thickness, cross-section, curvature, etc) as, unlike straight Pipes, the simple Beam theory is not applicable. So in this situation, it is required to assume additional stresses by suitably incorporating a SIF. The following article will provide an example of SIF calculation of piping elbow or piping bends following process piping code ASME B31.3. Fig. In-Plane Out-Plane Concept as per Code Stress Intensification Factor for a Piping Bend/Elbow In layman's language, the SIF of a bend or elbow can be defined as the ratio of bending stress of an elbow to that of straight pipe of the same diameter and thickness when subjected to the same bending moment. Whenever the same bending moment is applied to a bend because of ovalization the bending stress of the elbow will be much higher than that of a straight pipe. That is why the SIF value will always be greater than or equal to 1.0 (for straight pipe).The process piping code ASME B 31.3 provides a simple formula to calculate the SIF of a bend or elbow. As per that code SIF in-plane = 0.9 / h^(2/3) SIF out-plane = 0.75 / h^(2/3) Here h=T R1 / r2^2 h =Flexibility characteristics, dimensionless T =Nominal wall thickness of bend, in R1 =Bend radius, in r2 =Mean radius of matching pipe, in In-plane Out-plane SIF The in-plane and out-plane concept for a bend can be obtained from the attached figure from code or in layman's language the same can be explained as follows: The in-plane bending moment is the bending moment which causes the elbow to close or open in the plane formed by two limbs of the elbow. In a similar way, the out plane bending moment can be defined as the bending moment which causes one limb of the elbow to move out of the plane keeping another limb steady. From the above-mentioned equations, the following can be interpreted: For the same pipe size and same pipe thickness A short radius elbow is having more SIF as compared to a long radius elbow.With an increase in the bend radius, the SIF decreases and finally reaches to 1.0 for straight pipe.The SIF for a 45-degree elbow and a 90-degree elbow is the same as the bend radius is the same.With increase in nominal pipe thickness or schedule the SIF of a bend (90-degree) keeps on decreasing till its value is equal to 1.0. Few more Resources for you..How to use ASME B31J-2017 and FEM for SIF and k-factors for Stress Analysis Importance & Impact of Stress Intensification Factor (SIF): A Presentation Piping Stress Analysis Basics Piping Design and Layout Basics Piping Materials Basics Few Jobs for you