Stress analysis of piping elbows using FEM

Abstract

This study concerns the stress analysis of 908 smooth piping elbows with circular cross section and straight tangent pipes. The finite element method (FEM) is used for stress analysis of elbows having a wide range of bend and pipe factors. The main aim of the study is to review the stress behaviour when an elbow is subjected to loadings of in-plane bending, lorsion and in/ernal pressure The study includes the effect of end constraint, pipe faclor, bend radius and load coupling behaviour. The study shows that the stress level is influenced by end constraint, pipe factor and bend radius. with thinner elbows being affected to a larger extent.