Stress analysis of curved pipes with end restraints subjected to out-of-plane moments

A finite element scheme for the analysis of the combined piping system subjected to out-of-plane moments, is being presented in this paper. In the development of this method, doubly curved shell elements, which take into account the shear deformation also, have been used. The effects of end constraints on the flexibility factors have been investigated for the following two important and practical cases of pipe bends. Case I: Bends merging into straight sections of the same diameter and wall thickness. Case II: Bends having a rigid flange on one end and merging into straight section at the outer end. In order to study how the flexibility factor will differ with different arc lengths, bends of various included angles having the same end restraints have been analyzed. (orig./GL)