engineering tools – What Is Piping: All about Piping Engineering

Many of you must be aware that Caesar II 2017 (Version 9.0) has been released on 25th August 2016 for commercial use. The software is now readily available for purchase/upgrade. The latest version of the analysis software comes with new capabilities and code updates. The new Pipe stress analysis software now evaluates creep conditions, enables entry of custom nozzle stiffness, includes new model symbols and offers an improved display. The latest CAESAR II release delivers a number of significant new and extended capabilities in response to current market requirements, as well as direct feedback from the growing CAESAR II user community. The following changes have been made to CAESAR II. Added Support for Latest Code Standards: Piping Codes: Updated the software to the latest ASME B31.4 code standards, which included the ASME B31.4 2009, B31.4 2012, and B31.4 2016 code editions. The development updated included the following changes and improvements:  Updated materials applicable to the B31.4 code in the Material Database Editor.  Updated the Allowable Stress tab in the Piping Input module by including an Allowable Stress Indicator option for B31.4 and B31.4 Ch XI and Design Factor and Hoop Stress options for B31.3 Ch IX. Updated the software to support EN-13480 Creep code standards. The development update included the following changes and improvements: Updated applicable materials in the Material Database Editor to support En-1380 Creep.  Added a new Creep (CRP) Stress Type in the Static Analysis - Load Case Editor. The software supports Canadian Z662-11 (Chapter 11), June 2015. (CR-TX-15572) Equipment Codes: The software supports API-560, 5th Edition, February 2016. (CR-TX-16898) Enhanced Piping Input Usability: The Break at Element dialog box (of the Model > Break command) defaults to the halfway-point node number and distance for the Insert Single Node option The Displacements tab displays free and fixed designations to eliminate confusion. The Fix DOFs option applies the fixed value of 0.0 to any undefined field of a vector with one or more defined fields. Updated the software by creating a new Insert Restraint dialog box. The Insert Restraint dialog box allows you to right-click an element to insert restraints and define restraint options. Streamlined Load Case Editing/Creation: Updated the Static Analysis - Load Case Editor by adding the ability to copy and paste rows and to allow load cases selected in List view to remain selected when you switch to Group Edit view. Improved Distance Measuring: Updated inconsistent functionality in the Distance dialog box. Previously, if you selected Origin and Selected Element as your Measure Method, the Distance dialog box defaulted to To and From Nodes as the Measure Method after you took a measurement. The functionality was updated by retaining your selected Measure Method option for the duration of your use of the Distance dialog box. Improved 3D Model/Graphics: Node numbers display in front of piping elements when you use Options > Node Numbers and rotate graphics. Symbols for LIM restraints (axial limit stops) display on the outside of the pipe and remain visible when you use Options > Restraints . Expansion joints created with Model > Expansion Joint now have a default color of blue. Displacements, forces, and moments display graphically as arrows with Options > Displacements and Options > Forces . You can also change the default colors and arrow sizes in the Graphics Settings of the Configuration Editor or by using Plot Properties . Displacements on CNodes display graphically as arrows with Options > Displacements . Updated User Interface: CAESAR II 2017 features a news channel on the main window where you can find out product information (such as hotfixes to previous versions and the latest version of the software available). In addition, refer to the news channel for upcoming events, product training opportunities, and future webinars. Use the quick icon links at the bottom to get to the product web pages, the latest newsletter/blog postings, and Intergraph CAS social media sites.  Updated the look of the CAESAR II splash screen that appears when launching the software to the latest Intergraph PP&M standards. Enhanced Data Exporting Usability: In addition to choosing Nozzle Flex types for WRC 297, API 650, and PD 5500, you can also select a new user-defined Custom type. The Custom nozzle type includes user-defined nozzle flexibility values for Axial (radial force), In-Plane Bending, Out-of-Plane Bending, and Torsional (moment). Many improvements have also been made to the Nozzles auxiliary panel layouts to improve usability. To improve usability, individual flexible nozzle input export options are now combined into a single Flexible Nozzles option on the Data Export Wizard. Updated the software by adding a new LCASE_NAME column to files exported to Microsoft Access through the Data Export Wizard. The LCASE_NAME column was added to certain tables in CAESAR II .mdb files to allow you to identify the names of the load cases when integrating with Smart 3D. Upgraded User Documentation: Updated the Hinged Joint section of the CAESAR II Application Guide. Updated the Hinged Joint Model graphics to include all of the necessary components to model a hinged joint. Updated Restraints in the Piping Input Reference section of the CAESAR II User's Guide. Each restraint type includes a graphic example to assist identification. Added navigation information, such as the location on ribbons and menus, to command topics to aid discovery when browsing the help. Updated the Global Coordinates section of the CAESAR II User's Guide. Previously, the user's guide referenced global coordinates as X, Y, Z and local coordinates as x, y, z. The user's guide now references local coordinates as a, b, c to reduce confusion between local and global coordinates. Updated portions of the user documentation to the latest Intergraph PPM standards for formats, which included adding more white space and indentation for field property formats. Converted the CAESAR II 2017 readme document to .pdf format to comply with the latest Intergraph PP&M standards. Previously, the document, which contains an overview of the system requirements, new features, and fixes in CAESAR II 2017, was published in .mht format, which caused compatibility issues with certain web browsers. Updated the software to call the .chm-based help when you press F1 in the modules from the Components and Equipment sections of the Analysis tab and the modules from the Interfaces tab. Previously, these modules displayed in a text-based help dialog box. Added a new Creep Loading topic to the Technical Discussions section of the CAESAR II User's Guide. To know more about the changes please click here and register for one hour long free webinar. From the webinar you will be able to learn more about a variety of CAESAR II features, including: A large-scale B31.4 code update for liquid pipelines, including the ability to override the automatic CAESAR II Determines option and specify the restrained/unrestrained state of the pipe elements. Updates to support the latest piping code and equipment standards for B31.1, B31.5, Canadian Z662, and API 560. Support for creep conditions in piping based on EN-13480 guidelines, including an expanded material database with new material properties for load durations of 200,000 hours. Custom nozzle stiffnesses in piping input, so you can add nozzle flexibility data from external sources (hand calculations, third-party finite element analysis). Additional improved interfaces for the existing nozzle standard inputs. 3D model enhancements, such as new arrows for displacements, rotations, forces, and moments; a new symbol for zero-length expansion joints; improved display of Axial Stop symbols outside of piping; and improved node number display when rotating and viewing the model. Free and fixed displacement information now available in piping input. Right-click menu improvements, including the ability to break and insert restraints all from one dialog, as well as specify location based on element data. Focused improvements to the PCF interface, MDB export, and the Static Load Case Editor.