A study of single mitre pipe bends

• Main Author: Wood, J.
• Published: University of the West of Scotland 1983
• Subjects: 621.69; Pumps & filters & pipes & tubing & valves
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.344889

The use of single mitre oipe bends, in pipework and ducting, is evident in many areas of industry. However, it has been recognized that a theory which embraced all aspects of the elastic behaviour o£ single mitre bends does not exist. The present investigation demonstrates ~~e feasibility of using finite element methods for such a task. After an extensive series of 'verification comparisons' with experimental results obtained by the aUL~or and also with D~eoretical and experimental results available in the literature, a study of a wide range of ~~reinforced and fully fixed mitres was carried out. As a result of this study, useful design curves illustrating ~~e variation of stress concentration factor and flexibility factor, WiL~ radius to ~~ickness ratio and mitre angle, were produced for an inplane bending load. The above verification comparisons included in-plane bending, out-ofplane nending, torsion, internal pressure and transverse force loadings. An investigation into the effect of leg length and material properties on ~~e behaviour of mitre bends was also conducted. As a result of these studies, the limitations of currently used design Code formulae became evident. Possible difficulties in the numerical solution of thin shell problems are highlighted. In addition, a study of various methods of modelling shell intersections is reported. The most comprehensive review of literature to date, on all aspects of mitre bend behaviour, is presented in the Supplement to this thesis.