A SunCam online continuing education course

Pipe Support Failures

by

Gerald H. May, P.E.

Pipe Support Failures

A SunCam online continuing education course

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0

5.0

6.0

7.0

INTRODUCTION
IMPORTANCE
DESIGN PROCESS
RIGID PIPE SUPPORTS
4.1
Rigid Rods
4.2
Sliding Supports
4.3
Guides and Restraints
4.4
Sway Struts
4.5
Snubbers
4.6
Anchors
SPRING SUPPORTS
5.1
Variables Spring Hangers
5.2
Constant Support Hangers
PIPE ATTACHMENTS
6.1
Pipe Clamps on Horizontal Pipe
6.2
Riser Clamps on Vertical Pipe
6.3
Welded Pipe Attachments
6.4
Trapeze Supports
SUMMARY

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1.0

INTRODUCTION

Pipe supports are engineered to

Support the dead weight of the pipe, insulation, fluid and in-line components such as
valves, flow meters, and instrumentation
Restrain thermal pipe movement, as desired, from ambient to operating condition
Restrain pipe movement created by surge, steam hammer, water hammer or other flow
caused large dynamic loads
Restrain pipe movement caused by operational flow induced vibrations such as vane
passing pulsations, vortex shedding and other sources.
Restrain pipe movements caused by outside sources, such as wind and seismic events.
Provide stability to the pipe, particularly on long risers and long horizontal runs.
Minimize sag to acceptable levels between supports, which may be limited to assure full
drainage at all times.
This course is written to show the various types of supports, and the ways in which they may fail.
Shattered spring on constant support hanger can. Spring was
not passivated properly after acid pickling, and failed due to
hydrogen embrittlement.

There are three related courses that may be of use to

the student.
Introduction to Piping Engineering
provides an overview of the loading
conditions on pipe and basics of pipe stress
analysis.
Building Mechanical Integrity Into the
Plant Design discusses the different design
approach if Mechanical Integrity is
considered during initial plant design.
Life Cycle Mechanical Integrity of Piping
Systems builds upon the information
presented in these courses to show how to
set up a long term visual inspection and
monitoring program of piping systems at
any time during plant life.
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2.0

IMPORTANCE

A pipe support failure can cause catastrophic failure of pipe, collateral damage to the plant, fires,
explosion, and injuries and death to personnel. Pictured below is the result of a seam welded
pipe failure at a gulf coast area power plant. The final report attributed poorly functioning pipe
supports as the primary cause of the excess stresses that failed the pipe.
Seam welded riser pipe failed and
literally flew apart, causing collateral
damage to nearby pipes and steel.

Beginning of missing pipe in riser

Part of the pipe landed on the ground

near a walk area and roadway (lower
left photo).
The internal desuperheater liner shot
out of the failed pipe up over the
administration building coming to
rest in this pick-up truck. (photo
below)
Luckily, no one was injured, but the
potential for injury and death is
obvious.

From this dramatic example, and other incidents that are shown in this course, pipe support
damage is a real problem that can impact the availability of a plant, and potentially can create
serious problems causing injuries and death. The goal of this course is to help engineers and
designers recognize the potential problems and to avoid them before they become a catastrophic
issue.
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3.0

DESIGN PROCESS

To understand how pipe supports can fail, it is helpful to understand how they should be
designed and the short cuts that are sometimes taken.
Before routing a pipe, there should be a clear understanding of the process conditions; the
expected loading conditions; acceptable areas for pipe per process safety and fire constraints;
client expectations for access for maintenance, inspection and operations; an approximate layout
of equipment; and a concept of the structural supports that will be available.
The initial plant layout approximately locates equipment, horizontal and vertical pipe chases,
cable tray chases, walkways, crane access and other major considerations. General steel and
concrete arrangement is based upon these layouts. Layout should be a team effort to attempt to
foresee the detailed design requirements and avoid difficult or unworkable designs.
When a piping designer initially routes a pipe, it is a complex job of considering all of the above
criteria, and leaving room for other equipment that will probably be added later, such as other
pipes, cable trays and platforms. The designer should always consider how the pipe can be
supported from steel or concrete. An approved pipe support spacing tables can be used for initial
routing. The acceptable distance between pipe and steel is affected by the size and type of
supports, along with the expected horizontal movements.
A review process with a piping engineer and structural engineer should be performed to assure
the pipe can be supported efficiently. This review may include a preliminary pipe stress analysis
to assure the pipe support spacing is appropriate, and the structural design will have capacity for
all expected loading conditions. If significant detailed design problems are anticipated, the
layout may need to be modified by a team effort.
There may be multiple design iterations as steel, pipe, platforms and other details are designed.
At some point, the pipe support designs must be set based upon the For Fabrication pipe
routing.
It is clear from this summary description, that proper planning and decision making early in the
design process will make the final pipe support design drawings a relatively easy process.
However, a poorly thought out and reviewed pipe support layout may result in extreme
difficulties in making final steel design, and even in finding space to install the pipe supports.
While some of the failures described in this course are the result of faulty fabrication, incorrect
installation and unusual operating conditions many failures are a direct result of faulty design
practice.
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Copyright 2012 Gerald May, PE

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4.0

RIGID PIPE SUPPORTS

There are many types of pipe supports with a large number of detail variations in how they are
attached to the pipe and steel, and how they are arranged. A general grouping of types of rigid
supports is shown with discussion of the types of damage that can be observed.
4.1

Rigid Rods

Rigid rods are probably the simplest and most reliable pipe supports available, but even these can
fail.
Standard trapeze rigid rod pipe support in
good condition:
The pins at the pipe trapeze and the
steel are intentionally arranged
orthogonally to allow horizontal
movement of the pipe up to a 40 swing
angle in any direction (red arrows).
This 40 is an industry standard for
most pipe support components.
Exceeding this angle can create
binding of the components, and also
means that a significant horizontal
load component may be transmitted to
the steel.
Lock nuts at clevises and at right hand
threaded portion of rod are tightened
to assure rod does not back out of
components due to vibration (orange
arrows).
Pins with cotter pins are installed at
steel and trapeze attachments to assure
pins do not slip out.
Turnbuckles are threaded right hand
and left hand for easy adjustment. In
this case, right hand thread is on top.
Left hand threaded nuts are rarely
installed (green arrow).

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GUIDELINE 1: RIGID RODS WORK WELL IN TENSION

BUT ARE USELESS IN COMPRESSION & BENDING
These photos show two variations of
a commonly used steel attachment in
which a hole is drilled through the
steel and a washer and nuts are used
to hold the rod in place.
This arrangement on the left
should only be used for low
loads since eccentric loading of
beams should be avoided,
Use drilled holes only for very
low horizontal movement. If the
horizontal movement from
thermal growth, wind or
vibration is excessive then the
rod is put in bending at the steel.
Given enough cycles, the rod
will break.
At one plant, bending of the rod
at the steel caused one pipe
support to fail. The support was
not repaired, and about 6 months
later the next support upstream
failed due to bending and the
increased load from the first
failure. The increased load on the
next support caused an
immediate domino effect
failing 10 supports and letting
the 3 line sag 8. Due to the
criticality of the system, the plant
was shut down for 3 days as the
pipe was replaced.
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Obviously rod supports are designed only for tension load. When
a rod is bowed and in compression like this, then the cause needs
to be investigated.
In this case, a dynamic load had occurred, causing the line to
jump up several inches. The end result is shown in the 2 photos
below of the same variable spring hanger with guide. This
support is downstream of the bowed rod about 40. From the
dynamic event, the trunnion completely lifted off the spring load
flange and came to rest on top of the guide steel, instead of the
variable spring load flange that it was originally resting upon.
This raised the pipe elevation and bowed the rod.
This is an extreme example. More often rods are found unloaded
but not in compression. Sometimes it is difficult to know if the
rods are loaded from a visual exam, and grabbing the rod to test
the tension is recommended if the rod is safely accessible.

Guide Steel

Trunnion w/ plate, resting on guide steel instead of load flange

Variable Spring Can

Variable Spring Load Flange

The spring support was re-positioned properly, but the rigid rod had yielded and had a permanent
bow. In this case, both the bowed rod and stanchion plate on top of the guide steel were
symptoms of another problem, an unpredicted dynamic load.
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4.2

Sliding Supports

There are a large number of different types of sliding supports. The most widely used are shown
below and are the staple pipe support design on pipe racks, particularly in refinery and
petrochemical plants.
A pipe shoe is attached to the pipe, by clamping it to
the pipe. Shown here is one of the common problems,
the shoe has worked its way off the steel due to
thermal ratcheting or vibration (red arrow). This
causes 2 immediate issues:
1. The pipe elevation is lowered locally, which
not only causes increased pipe stress, but may
cause drainage problems with an undrainable
low point.
2. If the pipe needs to move axially, it is now
restrained which will increase thermal stresses,
and possibly damage to the steel. In this case
the insulation is also damaged.
At the side of the pipe, visible through the insulation,
is a stub intended as a lateral guide. Obviously it is
inactive in this situation since it cannot contact the
vertical steel (green arrow).

This is a typical example of a TEE

welded to the bottom of the pipe as a
shoe. This one is centered properly.
If this type of shoe falls off the steel,
there is a risk of the weld to the pipe
cracking and the crack penetrating into
the pressure boundary of the pipe.

TEE welded to pipe, slides on I-Beam

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GUIDELINE 2: OVERSIZE THE LENGTH OF THE SUPPORTS TO

ASSURE THEY REMAIN ON THE STEEL.

In this case, the shoe is clamped over the

insulation, but the clamp has slipped
damaging the insulation and the shoe is on
the verge of falling off the steel.
This design attempts to minimize heat loss by
maintaining the insulation through the pipe
support, but with the slippage and damaged
insulation the heat loss is actually greater than
if a shoe were welded to the pipe.

Here is another example of how sliding

supports can bind up. The horizontal pipe
moves about 4 horizontally from cold to
hot conditions. There is no low friction
slide plate.
The trunnion support sometimes slid and
sometimes bound up and rotated the support
stanchion - eventually leading to an
overhang over the stanchion plate.
As shown in the picture, when the pipe
moves to the right as it heats up, the plates
do not slide and instead rotates the
stanchion, and its support steel. While the
picture may appear exaggerated due to the
slope of the camera, it was estimated that the
stanchion and support steel was being
twisted up to 200.

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This is one of a series of improperly

sliding supports that led to a
through wall failure of a high
pressure steam line.

Copyright 2012 Gerald May, PE

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GUIDELINE 3: SLIDING SUPPORTS RARELY

SLIDE TO THE LOCATIONS EXPECTED.

Guideline 3 may seem a little overly negative, but even when low friction slide pads are used, the
frictional coefficient is difficult to predict. In most installations, there are many of these sliding
supports in a row, and just one of them binding up or sliding at a higher friction factor can create
inconsistencies. These types of supports are inexpensive, but if more than 1 to 2 of horizontal
movement is expected, they are very difficult to maintain.
Lift-Off is a common problem with rigid stanchion
supports. In this case the pipe stanchion is
approximately 1 above the steel and supporting no
load. Causes are often:
Thermal growth of pipe not properly accounted for
and support should be a spring. **
Bowing of the pipe
Pipe pivoting at a nearby support
** Inexperienced pipe stress analysts often look at the
loads in a pipe stress run without paying attention to the
plus or minus sign. Given normal convention of up +,
down -; when a support load is +, the support is trying
to lift off. If a + load is calculated, rather than reanalyze with modified supports, an analyst may report
the positive load plus safety factor as the design load.
This photo shows the result of such a mistake.
4.3

Guides And Restraints

Guides are usually intended to restrain the movement of the pipe in one or more directions,
limiting or eliminating the movement completely. If no movement is allowed, they are called
guides. If some movement is allowed they are called gapped guides or limit stops. If the guide
is arranged to limit movement in line with the centerline of the pipe, it is an axial restraint, and if
perpendicular to the centerline it is a lateral restraint.

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This is one common style guide in
which angle steel is welded to a
structural stanchion, to limit
horizontal movement of a pipe
trunnion.
Note that the angle steel is completely
missing on the left and foreground
sides. (Remnants of the welds are
visible.) Was the load excessive for
the design and ripped the angle off?
Was the angle intentionally removed
by maintenance? Is there some other
explanation? In this case, the exact
reason for the missing angle steel was
never resolved.

Missing Guide Steel

This is one of many examples of

riser guides that restrain the pipe
horizontally, while allowing
thermal movement vertically.
There is a clamp under the
insulation w/ 4 plates sticking out
through the insulation to guide the
pipe w/in the outside clamp. One
plate is bent in this photo. The
plate is also vertically shorter than
the clamp, leading to potential to
bind up as the pipe moves
vertically.

Bent Spider Plate

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This particular guide also has the

problem of a double unbraced
cantilever support. If the pipe
pushes on the guide, the steel may
twist and bind up the guide.

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Trunnion support with wide flange steel

straddling the support beam to act as an axial
guide. The wide flange to the left has been
overloaded and bent out to about a 450 angle.
Bent Guide Steel Welded to Trunnion Plate
There is one other common cause for inadequate guide design. The supports are not always
engineered. Perhaps the loads are not calculated, or all possible loading conditions are not
considered. Another common issue is that rigid supports and guides are often designed from
standards. The standard size may be appropriate in a high percentage of cases, but occasionally
this approach will undersize the components.

GUIDELINE 4: GUIDES AND LIMIT STOPS MUST BE DESIGNED

FOR ALL POSSIBLE LOADING CONDITIONS, AND SHOULD BE
CONSERVATIVELY ENGINEERED FOR UNEXPECTED EVENTS.
4.4

Sway Struts

Sway struts are engineered rigid components that are designed to resist load in tension or
compression. They are length limited by buckling for a particular compressive load. While most
other components are almost always arranged along the axis of the pipe or perpendicular to the
axis, it is common that sway struts are installed at skewed angles and often in pairs. Multiple
sway struts provide some stability in compression, where a single axis might rotate and not
restrain the pipe as needed. Note that the connection pins are not loose as commonly seen in rod
hangers, but are machined pins to bearings.

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To Left: Vertical sway struts to support weight load.
Functioning properly.
Below: Horizontal sway strut attached to riser pipe by a
pipe clamp. Functioning properly.

4.5

Snubbers

Hydraulic snubbers are installed in locations where movement due to sudden dynamic loads need
to be resisted, but the thermal movement of the pipe does not allow the installation of sway
struts, guides or limit stops. Snubbers are provided with tight fitting pins and bearings at the
pipe and steel attachments, similar to sway struts. There is a piston which has a specific stroke,
and it must be set up to never fully compress or fully extend due to thermal movement in any
operating condition.
Hydraulic snubbers are maintenance items, as the hydraulic fluid may leak from failed seals, the
internal valve can clog, or there is other damage to the mechanism. If a hydraulic snubber is
inoperable due to leaking hydraulic fluid, it typically will move freely and not restrain thermal
growth unless the snubber is fully compressed or fully extended.
Snubbers should only be installed to resist short term occasional dynamic loads. Snubbers will
not operate long if there is a high cycle vibration that it is expected to restrain. Because of their
initial cost, maintenance cost and limited application, snubbers should be installed as a last resort
when other types of guides and limit stops are not acceptable.

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Shiny portion of piston indicates movement

Reservoir w/ leaking fluid
This is a hydraulic snubber installed in the horizontal position. Stroke is extended several inches.
The shiny portion of the piston is usually a good indication of the actual movement. Always
check to see if piston is fully extended or compressed. Evidence of fluid leakage and reservoir is
probably empty, making it incapable of resisting dynamic loads.
Mechanical snubbers were a popular alternative to hydraulic snubbers for a period of time
because they eliminated the maintenance issue of hydraulic fluid. Mechanical snubbers fell out
of favor when failures were found. When a mechanical snubber fails, it typically has a broken
internal part that cannot be seen. The failed part completely locks the snubber in place and will
restrain thermal movement like a sway strut. The difficulty in knowing when a mechanical
snubber has failed, and the fact it will lock up has made them rarely installed since the 1990s.

GUIDELINE 5: DUE TO HIGH COSTS & LIMITED APPLICABILITY

SNUBBERS SHOULD BE AVOIDED IF THERE IS A REASONABLE
ALTERNATIVE DESIGN.

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4.6

Anchors

An anchor is a rigid restraint in which pipe displacements and rotations are nearly eliminated.
Below to the left is a stanchion that is welded to a riser pipe, and welded to the steel. The length
of the stanchion is limited, the stanchion weld to the pipe was engineered for the expected loads,
and the steel was designed for the full load. All 3 displacements and all 3 rotations are limited
by the stiffness of the stanchion and the structural steel. Properly engineered, installed and
maintained for corrosion - anchors should virtually never fail.

Failed Weld
However, in the right photo is an example of an anchor that did fail. The stanchion is
cantilevered from the structural steel and then cantilevered orthogonally to the riser pipe.
(Vertical pipe not in photo.) No unusual loading conditions occurred, just a poorly engineered
design creating bending moments in components that did not have the proper strength. This
anchor was relatively flexible as originally designed, and did not provide the stiffness that was
desired. The solution was to re-weld and brace the stanchion from near the pipe location back to
the structural steel.

GUIDELINE 6: ANCHORS AND OTHER RESTRAINTS SHOULD BE

DESIGNED FOR BOTH STRESS AND NECESSARY STIFFNESS.

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5.0

SPRING SUPPORTS

There are two primary spring supports:

Variable Springs for relatively low vertical thermal movements up to 2, although special
designs can be made for greater movements
Constant Supports for vertical movements greater than 2.

Both types are provided by many pipe support suppliers based upon each manufacturers designs
and testing. The spring can dimensions, spring rates, travel scales, travel stop design, structural
attachments, adjoining rod sizes and other details vary between manufacturers. This can be an
issue if a particular manufacturer was assumed to supply all spring supports, and the contract was
awarded to a different supplier. While often the changes are relatively simple, it is possible that
the size and type of spring selected will not fit in the available space with a different
manufacturers equipment.
5.1

Variable Spring Hangers

Variable spring hangers are helical coils that are designed to compress or expand as the pipe
moves from ambient temperature to operating temperature. As the spring compresses, the load
increases. This change in load from ambient to operating condition is called the load variability,
and it must be limited to assure the pipe is properly supported in all operating conditions.
To accommodate the load variation limitation, hanger vendors typically make helical coils in at
least 3 different lengths using the same strength coil. As the length of the coil doubles, the
spring rate in lbs/in is halved. The space required for such springs also doubles, and in most
installations there is a space limitation for long springs with low spring rates.
Design for a variable spring is based upon:

Optimum load usually set at operating or hot load

Travel in inches calculated vertical thermal movement from ambient to operating
condition, or cold to hot movement (Convention is movement down cold to hot is
negative, movement up is positive)
Spring Rate lbs/in
Ambient (cold) load = Optimum load + (Spring Rate X Travel)
Load variation Percent = ((Hot Load Cold Load)/ Hot Load) X 100 or = ((Spring rate x
travel)/Hot Load) X 100

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Since the load changes as the helical coil expands and contracts, there is a limit to the amount of
movement that a spring should be designed for. A typical maximum variation from ambient to
operating load is 25% of the optimum load, which is usually set as the operating condition load.
On critical systems, engineers will limit this load variation to 10% to 15% to assure the pipe is
properly supported at all times.
F (floor support) Style Variable
Spring
Load Flange
Adjustment Collar, Screws up
and down to adjust height of
load flange and compression of
spring.
Travel and Load Scale: 0 to 21/2 on this size can.
Design cold position, white
diamond, 1-1/2, 4046#. Design
hot position, Red diamond, 21/16. 4500#. Thus design
movement 0.56 down, cold to
hot.
Spring rate 800 #/in.
Indicator Tab Normally read at
bottom. In this case 2-3/8.
Manufacturer: PTP-2 Size 140

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GUIDELINE 7: THE VARIATION IN LOAD ON A VARIABLE

SPRING HANGER SHOULD NEVER EXCEED 25%, AND IN
MANY SITUATIONS SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10%.
On the next page is part of a typical vendors variable spring hanger selection chart.
Example: From a stress analysis report, the optimum load is 1,000 lbs, and the pipe is expected
to move up 1.5 from ambient to operating condition.

Look for the 1,000 lbs and set that as the springs operating load.
There are 2 choices, a size 9 or size 10. Try a size 9
There are 5 different spring ranges, BE 399 through BE 403, each with a different spring
rate as shown at the bottom of the table, 400 lbs/in to 50 lbs /in.
At 1.5 movement x 400 lbs/in the load variation would be 600 lbs or 60%. To be less
than 25% variability, select BE 403 at 100 lbs/in. (1.5 x 100 /1000) x100 = 15%. Design
ambient load is thus 1000 lbs + 150 lbs = 1150 lbs. which is within range of this spring.
Per the table, design settings would be 4.5 ambient and 3 operating condition.
If the initial attempt were to assume a size 10, a BE400 would have to be selected to
obtain load variability less than 25%. In general, the larger the spring in length and size
number, the more expensive the spring is. Thus, unless there are some additional criteria,
the size 9 BE 403 would be the optimum size.
Most pipe stress computer programs will perform this calculation for the engineer, and
then re-analyze the pipe using the selected spring rate to re-calculate the expected vertical
movement. The engineer should always check to make sure the computer generated
spring size and spring rate are the desired selection for the spring hanger.

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WORKINGRANGE,IN.
BE403 BE402 BE401

0
0
0

EXAMPLEVARIABLESPRINGHANGERSELECTIONTABLE
HANGERSIZE
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
46 60 82 108 144 190 252 336 450 600
47 63 85 113 150 197 263 350 469 625
49 65 88 117 156 205 273 364 488 650
51 68 92 122 162 213 284 378 506 675
53 70 95 126 168 221 294 392 525 700
55 73 98 131 174 229 305 406 544 725

10
802
835
868
902
935
968

11
1068
1113
1157
1202
1246
1291

12
1426
1485
1544
1604
1663
1722

57

75

102 135 180

237 315 420 563

750

1002 1335

1782

0.25

0.5

0.75

59
61
62
64
66
68
70
72
74
76
77
79
81

78
80
83
85
88
90
93
95
98
100
103
105
108

105
109
112
115
119
122
125
129
132
136
139
142
146

245
253
260
268
276
284
292
300
308
316
323
331
339

775
800
825
850
875
900
925
950
975
1000
1025
1050
1075

1035
1069
1102
1135
1169
1202
1235
1269
1302
1336
1369
1402
1436

1380
1424
1469
1513
1558
1602
1647
1691
1736
1780
1825
1869
1914

1841
1901
1960
2019
2079
2138
2197
2257
2316
2376
2435
2494
2554

347 462 616 825 1100 1469 1958

2613

355
363
371
379
386
394

0.5

1.5

1.25

2.5

186
192
198
204
210
216
222
228
234
240
246
252
258

1 83 110 149 198 264

140
144
149
153
158
162
167
171
176
180
185
189
194

85
87
89
91
92
94

113
115
118
120
123
125

152
156
159
163
166
169

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30
15
7.5

40
20
10

54
27
13.5

630
644
658
672
686
700

581
600
619
638
656
675
694
713
731
750
769
788
806

270
276
282
288
294
300

1125
1150
1175
1200
1225
1250

1502
1536
1569
1603
1636
1669

2003
2047
2092
2136
2181
2225

2672
2732
2791
2851
2910
2969

72
36
18

SPRINGRATELBS/INCH
96 126 168 224 300 400
48 63 84 112 150 200
24 31.5 42 56 75 100

534
267
133.5

712
356
178

950
475
237.5

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473
483
494
504
515
525

434
448
462
476
490
504
518
532
546
560
574
588
602

203
207
212
216
221
225

326
336
347
357
368
378
389
399
410
420
431
441
452

844
863
881
900
919
938

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Problems with variable springs can be the same as rigid rods, with bowed rods, swing angle
greater than 40 or corroded components. The other common issues are

Pipe and spring do not move as expected.

If a spring is below the pipe, F style, then 40 is not applicable. Manufacturers typically
recommend 0.25 maximum horizontal movement so that the load collar does not bind
against the can.
Spring is bottomed out once the spring is fully compressed it acts as if it is rigid.
Spring is topped out the spring is fully extended against the top of the can. Since the
spring is pre-loaded, the load in the spring decreases from the pre-load until it eventually
equals 0 lbs. It is possible for the spring to appear topped out, and the spring is still
supporting some load.

Lisega F style variable spring hanger: For

this manufacturer, the indicator is read from
the top of the load plate inside the can. In
this case the load plate is well below scale,
arrow point. Assume the hanger is bottomed
out, although without being able to see the
spring, it is not possible to tell if the spring is
fully compressed.

Topped out variable spring hanger:

Support point from the pipe is not on
top of can (orange arrow), but to the
right (red arrow). This problem is the
same as the shoe falling off the steel
described in the rigid section.
Spring is fully extended with the load
plate partially visible at the top of the
can (blue arrow). Scale is not visible.
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Pipe Support Failures

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GUIDELINE 8: HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT SHOULD BE

MAINTAINED AT LESS THAN 40 FOR VARIABLE SPRING
HANGERS, AND LESS THAN 0.25 FOR FLOOR SUPPORT
VARIABLE SPRINGS.

A large dynamic load damaged this

trapeze variable spring rod hanger.
Not only is the steel damaged, but
the rods are bent, and the spring
cans are topped out. Complete
replacement was necessary.

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Pipe Support Failures

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Spring coating has deteriorated

and the spring is starting to
corrode. While the spring is
not near failure, the spring
capacity is being affected and
replacement should be
considered.

Variable spring hangers are shipped with

travel stops installed to set the hanger at its
design ambient load. In this case, the red
travel stop below the indicator bar was left in
place while the travel stop above the
indicator was properly removed. All travel
stops should always be removed prior to
operation. Otherwise, the spring may be
effectively topped out or bottomed out in
certain conditions.

5.2

Constant Support Hangers

For cases where the vertical movement is too great to use a variable spring hanger, pipe support
vendors have developed constant support hangers. The name implies that the load is the same
over the entire movement range of the hanger. However, that is a misnomer as per MSS-SP-58,
the load can vary by plus minus 6% over the full range and still be within specification. After
the cans have aged, even larger variations than 12% have been documented.
Most constant supports have a helical coil, (perhaps multiple nested helical coils), that act like a
typical variable spring hanger. Traditionally, to reduce the load variation through the range,
lever arms and pivot pins transfer the load from the rod to the steel. Lisega supplies a different
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Pipe Support Failures

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design using compensating springs to maintain a consistent load through the travel range. See
the sketches below.
This is an Anvil constant
support can. The cans may
look quite different
depending on the orientation
and manufacturer, but the
operation principal is the
same except for Lisega.
As the pipe moves down,
it pulls the load pivot pin
down.
The Main Pivot rotates
but does not move.
The internal arms from
the pivot pin to the end of
the spring compresses the
spring.
The load is adjusted by
changing the distance
from the Main Pivot to
the Moveable Spring
Pivot with the Load
Adjustment Bolt.

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Pipe Support Failures

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Sketch of Lisega Style Constant

Support. As the pipe moves down,
it compresses the center spring.
This movement pulls the top
portion of the side cams down,
changing the angle of the
compensating horizontal springs.
The compensating springs and cam
angles are engineered to
compensate the change in vertical
load in the center spring.

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Pipe Support Failures

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A typical constant
support hanger with a
horizontal spring inside
the large round cover:
The travel indicator is at
1.5 out of 10 in this
photo based upon red
indicator (red arrow).
The lever arm is from
the top of the rod to the
pivot pin that is visible
(blue arrow). The open
hole is where the travel
stop would be installed
during shipping (green
arrow).
The load adjustment bolt
is at the far right, yellow
arrow.

Travel indicator is missing

(red arrow). The only way
to estimate travel is from
the extension of the can to
the left (orange arrow).

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A vertical style constant support
hanger that is topped out: With Anvil
manufacturer, the travel indicator is
the pin painted red, and it is hard
against the frame (red arrow). (There
are 2 pins, one on either side of the
can.) With the position of the rod and
pivot pin, as the pipe moves down,
the indicator moves up. Thus, when
the pin is hard against the bottom of
the frame, the hanger is topped out.
The red and white diamonds on the
travel scale are the design hot and
cold travel settings, respectively. The
difference between the two diamonds
represents the calculated or actual
travel. The distance from the 0 to the
maximum travel is called the total
travel. Typically the total travel is
actual travel +20%. Example:
If total travel = 12, and the cold and
hot settings are at 1 and 9, then the
actual travel = (1-9)x12/10 = 9.6.
As with the variable spring hangers, a topped out
hanger may still be carrying some load between the
set load and 0 lbs.
Pivot pins should be designed as bearings (blue
arrow). However, inexpensive constant support cans
often have carbon steel pins which will flatten and
not rotate properly with age.

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The red bars bolted to the bottom of

the cans are travel stops for Anvil
(orange arrows). When installed, the
travel stops are swung up over the
travel scales and lock the travel
indicator pins in place. Travel stops
are installed for shipping and often
for hydro-static testing. They must be
removed before operation.

Copyright 2012 Gerald May, PE

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Pipe Support Failures

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This is an Anvil large load vertical constant support hanger
supporting a large air duct. These particular hangers have a
problem of failing at the lever arm link plate (red arrows).
The weld has failed and the arms are separated. Looking at
the travel indicator, it is topped out (blue arrow). It can be
confirmed that no load is being supported by the lack of
tension at the load yoke (green arrow).

The photo above shows how

the lever arms should be held
together by the plate.
However, this particular can
was heavily attacked by
corrosion.
As shown in the photo to the
left, the spring was corroded
all the way through wall.

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With this manufacturer the travel stop

is a pin and the plant started up with
the travel stop installed. The internal
lever arm bent the travel stop and
dented the lever arm. It is not visible
in this photo, but the hanger frame
had a crack propagating from the
pivot pin hole due to this mistake.

This is a similar style constant

support hanger in which the travel
stop was left in place during
operation. The internal support plate
is bent and the can had to be replaced
(Red arrow).
Constant support cans are adjusted
for load by turning a load adjustment
bolt (green arrow), which moves the
pivot point of the lever arm. There is
a load adjustment scale which is
almost always difficult to read
(yellow arrow).

Another view of the load scale:

They are usually difficult to read
even when they are visible. After
clean-up, there would be marks on
the plate, red arrow representing
2% change in load per mark.
There is an arrow for increased and
decrease load. The indicator is a
scribed line on the load block
which is faintly visible, yellow
arrow.

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Pipe Support Failures

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GUIDELINE 9: CONSTANT SUPPORT HANGER LOADS MAY

VARY PLUS MINUS 6% OVER THE FULL RANGE. IT IS NOT
PREDICTABLE WHETHER THE LOAD INCREASES OR
DECREASES AT VARIOUS POINTS IN THE RANGE. THIS LOAD
VARIATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE PIPE SUPPORT
DESIGN BY LIMITING THE NUMBER OF CONSTANT SUPPORT
HANGERS, IF POSSIBLE.
AVOID USING ONLY CONSTANT SUPPORT HANGERS TO
SUPPORT A SYSTEM
LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO INSTALL ONE OR MORE
RIGID SUPPORTS TO STABILIZE THE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
USE VARIABLE SPRING HANGERS, IF POSSIBLE
BECAUSE THE LOAD CHANGE IS PREDICTABLE AND
TENDS TO SELF-COMPENSATE.
o IF THE PIPE STARTS TO SAG AT A VARIABLE
SPRING, THE LOAD INCREASES, LIMITING THE SAG.
o IF THE VARIABLE SPRING IS OVERSUPPORTING,
THE PIPE WILL TEND TO MOVE UP, LIMITING THE
LOAD.

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Pipe Support Failures

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6.0

PIPE ATTACHMENTS

A critical portion of any pipe support design is the attachment to the pipe to transfer the load
from the pipe to the pipe support and eventually to the structure. Much of the damage found in
pipe supports are in the pipe attachment, and sometimes the damage propagates into the pipe
wall requiring repair of the pipe. This section is organized into three sections, Pipe Clamps on
Horizontal Pipes, Pipe Clamps on Riser Pipes and Welded Attachments
6.1

Pipe Clamps On Horizontal Pipes

All pipe support vendors supply several styles of pipe clamps that can be bolted on the pipe.
Load is transferred by shear into the load bolt, and the clamp usually is supporting load in only 1
direction, usually vertical. Clamps are generally reliable if the load is specified properly. There
are 3 bolt pipe clamps with 2 bolts holding the clamp in place and the third bolt transferring the
load to the rod. The clamp should be oriented properly with the load bolt centered in line with
the top of the pipe.
In general the load bolt is the weak
point in any of these arrangements,
and the bolt is typically one size
large than the rod size. Missing nuts
on the load bolt as shown to the left,
(or cotter pins if it is a load pin) can
lead to the load bolt falling out of the
holes.

This is an unusual 3 bolt pipe clamp

failure that was caused by a carbon steel
clamp being installed on a high
temperature line. It failed due to high
temperature creep degradation. The
clamp should have been an alloy steel
rated at over 1000F. If an inspection had
been performed prior to the failure, the
inspector should have noticed elongation
of the clamp, and probably damaged
insulation from the elongation.
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6.2

Riser Clamps On Vertical Pipe

The standard riser attachment is a riser

clamp with shear lugs (yellow arrows).
All vertical load is transferred from the
pipe to the shear lugs and then to the
clamp. The clamp at the two load bolts is
basically in shear, while the clamp around
the pipe is in shear and bending. Most
clamps are a single depth from ear to ear,
but for these large loads on the order of
50,000 lbs or more, the clamps may be
contoured as shown here. This clamp is
unusual with the two halves being welded
together with plates (red arrow), instead of
being bolted together.

Above is a typical riser clamp with consistent plate size from ear to ear and gusset plates for
stiffness (red arrows). Note partially visible bolts at insulation hold the clamp halves
together to the pipe (green arrow). This clamp is bowed up at the load bolts. Bowing can be
an indication of a damaged riser pipe clamp.

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Load Bolt Hole

Crack Initiation

Load Bolt Hole

A failed 33 diameter riser clamp that catastrophically broke on the curvature of the clamp
at the tip of the gusset plates. It is shown on the ground in 4 pieces. The failure started at
the bottom gusset plate (red arrow) due to high bending stress, and possibly because the
gusset weld was not post weld heat treated. It then propagated up the clamp due to creep
fatigue. (The failure is nearly identical, 1800 away, on the other half of the clamp.)
When the crack had propagated about 2/3 of the way up the clamp, the last third failed in a
brittle fracture. Upon analysis, the distance from the load bolts to the pipe was too long for
the strength of the clamp at temperature. Incorrect Post Weld Heat Treatment of the gusset
plate weld may have also contributed.

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6.3

Welded Pipe Attachments

Many of the rigid supports shown previously are welded to the pipe. In designing guides and
anchors, welded attachments should be avoided, but welds may be necessary. If properly
engineered, these welds can be effective over a long period of time, but there are some inherent
problems that are difficult to overcome. If there is an alternative to a welded attachment, it
should be strongly considered.
1. If the pipe is insulated, the temperature of the attachment at the pipe wall will be different
than the attachment outside the insulation. This thermal gradient can create a thermal
stress that will cause cracking of the weld.
2. When an attachment is welded to the pipe there is a strong probability that a bending
moment will exist at the pipe wall. Reinforcement of the pipe may be necessary as pipes
are not sized for externally applied bending moments.
3. Welded attachments must be pre-heated and post weld heat treated as required for any
other pipe weld. Often these attachments are made in the field and heat treatment is not
performed properly.
4. If a crack develops at a welded attachment, it may propagate into the pipe wall,
weakening the pressure boundary of the pipe and threatening a through wall leak.
A rod pipe support with a welded
attachment plate on a bend of the
pipe from a riser to horizontal run:
The weld is strong enough to hold
many times the design load, but the
weld has cracked virtually from one
end to the other. (This is a dye
penetrant examination and red dye
shows weld indications.)
Mouse holes were included in the
design to attempt to relieve stresses
created by the thermal gradient
(green arrows). As with this case,
the mouse holes usually do not work
and just become stress
intensification factors that help
initiate cracks.

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Some Piping Engineers have a design rule NEVER to weld to a bend or elbow because:

An elbow is counted on for thermal flexibility and the attachment stiffens it

A welded attachment creates an undefined stress intensification factor.

This is a detail photo of a welded

plate attachment on a horizontal
pipe for a rod hanger. The yellow
chalk shows the location of a crack
start at the edge of the plate weld.
This is a typical result of any
welded attachments, and some
owners have replaced the welded
attachments with pipe clamps to
avoid the potential for cracking.

This type of pipe attachment is

often called a batwing riser
support welded directly to the
pipe. Instead of a riser clamp
and shear lugs, one or two
plates are welded to each side of
the pipe, and the load bolt is
connected. Commonly cracks
are found at the top and bottom
of the batwing welds to the
pipe. (A sharp-eyed reader may
think they spot a shear lug
above the clamp, but that is a
temporary spacer to hold the
insulation above the clamp in
place during a weld inspection.)

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In the yellow chalk circle is the
typical start of cracks in a batwing
style support.

Shown is one of four trunnions

attached orthogonally to a riser
pipe. The 4 trunnions rest on the
steel and then are guided laterally.
Both the vertical load and guide
load are point loads at the steel,
which result in shear and bending
stresses at the pipe. The engineer
added reinforcement plates at the
pipe. But plainly visible is a large
crack from the bottom of the
reinforcement plate weld to nearly
the top of the weld. This support
was re-designed with a clamp and
shear lugs to eliminate the bending
moment at the pipe wall.

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GUIDELINE 10: WELDED PIPE SUPPORT ATTACHMENTS

SHOULD BE AVOIDED DUE TO POTENTIAL FOR FAILED
WELDS.
FOR RISER SUPPORTS USE SHEAR LUGS WITH A
RISER CLAMP TO AVOID PUTTING THE ATTACHMENT
INTO BENDING AT THE PIPE WALL.
ON HORIZONTAL PIPES USE CLAMPS INSTEAD OF
WELDED ON PLATES.
ON BENDS, ATTEMPT TO RELOCATE THE SUPPORT
TO STRAIGHT PIPE INSTEAD OF WELDING TO THE
BEND.

6.4

Trapeze Supports

Several photos have already been shown of trapeze style supports. These are typically used
when a rod hanger is needed, but there is not enough space from the top of the pipe to the steel to
install the pipe clamp, rod and possibly spring. In some cases there is space, but the longer rod
length of a trapeze support is used to keep the swing angle below 40.
Rigid rod trapezes work well in most installations. However, variable spring and constant
support trapezes are very difficult to keep in proper adjustment. If at all possible, avoid trapeze
spring hangers. Some of the causes of the problem include:
1. The pipe rotates from ambient to operating temperature, causing an eccentricity in the
load.
2. The springs may not be adjusted to the same load, particularly after aging and one spring
will have more load than the other.
3. When curved saddles are used under the pipe to the trapeze, the location of the point load
to the trapeze steel literally can move several inches on the trapeze from ambient to
operating load.

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Pipe Support Failures

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Shown is a trapeze variable spring hanger that is poorly adjusted. The left can is
very near bottomed out and the right can is floating within scale. (Scale is not
visible in this photo.) Trapeze is at about a 300 angle. Based upon the bolts
(blue arrows), the pipe is attached to the steel with a U-bolt, and there is
probably a curved pipe saddle underneath the insulation.

GUIDELINE 11: VARIABLE SPRING AND CONSTANT

SUPPORT TRAPEZE SUPPORTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
DURING DESIGN LAYOUT PHASE, THE DISTANCE FROM
PIPE TO STEEL SHOULD BE MAXIMIZED TO HAVE ROOM
FOR A SINGLE ROD ARRANGEMENT AND TO KEEP THE
SWING ANGLE LESS THAN 40.

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Pipe Support Failures

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7.0

SUMMARY
1. All potential loads need to be calculated, or conservatively assumed prior to designing
any pipe supports.
2. Assure all components of a pipe support are adequately designed for the expected loads.
3. For any type of rod hanger (rigid, variable spring or constant support), maximum swing
angle measured pin to pin should be 40.
4. Sliding supports often do not slide as expected. The slide plates may bind up and rotate
support steel, or damage the pipe to attachment welds.
5. Slide plates may walk off their support steel or stanchion. This can cause undrainable
low points, and damage to the pipe support, pipe and support steel.
6. Hydraulic snubbers are a maintenance item to assure the fluid reservoir is full, and the
snubber functions as intended.
7. Variable spring hangers should have a maximum load variability of 25%. On many
systems load a maximum load variability of 10% is set to assure the piping system is well
supported at all times.
8. Constant support hangers have a specified, yet unpredictable load variability of plus
minus 6%. Avoid supporting an entire system with constant support hangers as it will be
very difficult to keep the entire system in balance.
9. Welded pipe support attachments should be avoided if there is any reasonable alternative.
10. Variable spring and constant support trapeze hangers should be avoided since they are so
difficult to keep in balance.
11. Variable spring and constant support hangers can be damaged, if travel stops are left
installed during operation.

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PAGE 39 OF 39