Dynamic analysis of piping systems - an approach to the experimental verification of computer programs (beam models)

The structural analysis of dynamically excited piping systems as performed with the numerical method of Finite Elements (FE) is usually based on simple beam elements. However, in order to establish their applicability, the computer programs used for the structural analysis must be verified on the basis of large-scale experiments. The behaviour of the extremely endangered elbows is considered (blowdown accident in a NPP). The influences of form effects (cross-section ovalization) in the elbows are isolated from the measured total stresses by a new method and their importance for a comparison experiment and calculation is shown. (orig./HP)