Effective dynamic restraining of pipework

The dynamic restraining of pipework movements, caused by seismic events or general vibration, is conventionally achieved by locking snubbers. These can be of the hydraulic or mechanical type, and have the effect of concentrating the available vibratory energy into the higher modes of vibration of the pipework. This paper presents a novel approach to the dynamic design of pipework and restraints. It is shown that by allowing the available vibratory energy to be shed via energy dissipating dampers, stress levels can be controlled much more effectively than by conventional means. Calculations are described and results are presented for two simple pipe systems. The necessary restraint characteristics of energy dissipating dampers are presented. (author)