CH AP TER 2
Chapter 2 Bends
This chapter illustrates the modeling techniques for various bend techniques in CAESAR II.
In This Chapter
Bend Definition ....................................................................................... 2-2
Single and Double Flanged Bends or Stiffened Bends ............................ 2-3
180 Degree Return Fitting-To-Fitting 90 Degree Bends ......................... 2-4
Mitered Bends.......................................................................................... 2-5
Closely Spaced Mitered Bend.................................................................. 2-6
Widely Spaced Mitered Bend .................................................................. 2-8
Elbows - Different Wall Thickness ......................................................... 2-11
Bend Flexibility Factor ............................................................................ 2-12
2-2 Bends
Bend Definition
Bends are defined by the element entering the bend and the element leaving the bend. The actual bend curvature is always
physically at the TO end of the element entering the bend.
The input for the element leaving the bend must follow the element entering the bend. The bend angle is defined by these
two elements.
Bend radius defaults to 1 1/2 times the pipe nominal diameter (long radius), but may be changed to any other value.
Specifying a bend automatically generates two additional intermediate nodes, at the 0-degree location and at the bend mid-
point (M).
For stress and displacement output the TO node of the element entering the bend is located geometrically at the far-point on
the bend. The far-point is at the weldline of the bend, and adjacent to the straight element leaving the bend.
The 0-degree point on the bend is at the weldline of the bend, and adjacent to the straight element entering the bend.
The FROM point on the element is located at the 0-degree point of the bend (and no 0-degree node point will be generated)
if the total length of the element as specified in the DX, DY, and DZ fields is equal to:
R tan ( / 2)
where is the bend angle, and R is the bend radius of curvature to the bend centerline.
Nodes defined in the Angle and Node fields are placed at the given angle on the bend curvature. The angle starts with zero
degrees at the near-point on the bend and goes to degrees at the far-point of the bend.
Angles are always entered in degrees. Entering the letter M as the angle designates the bend midpoints.
Nodes on the bend curvature cannot be placed closer together than specified by the Minimum Angle to Adjacent Bend
parameter in the Configure-Setup—Geometry section. This includes the spacing between the nodes on the bend curvature
and the near and far-points of the bend.
The minimum and maximum total bend angle is specified by the Minimum Bend Angle and Maximum Bend Angle
parameters in the Configure Setup—Geometry section.
Chapter 2 Bends 2-3
Single and Double Flanged Bends or Stiffened Bends
Single and double flanged bend specifications only effect the stress intensification and flexibility of the bend. There is no
automatic rigid element (or change in weight) generated for the end of the bend.
Single and double-flanged bends are indicated by entering 1 or 2 (respectively) for the Type in the bend auxiliary input.
Rigid elements defined before or after the bend will not alter the bend's stiffness or stress intensification factors.
When specifying single flanged bends it does not matter which end of the bend the flange is on.
If the user wishes to include the weight of the rigid flange(s) at the bend ends, then he/she should put rigid elements (whose
total length is the length of a flange pair) at the bend ends where the flange pairs exist.
As a guideline, British Standard 806 recommends stiffening the bends whenever a component that significantly stiffens the
pipe cross section is found within two diameters of either bend end.
The flanges in the figures below are modeled only to the extent that they affect the stiffness and the stress intensification for
the bends.
Flanged Bends
2-4 Bends
180 Degree Return Fitting-To-Fitting 90 Degree Bends
Two 90-degree bends should be separated by twice the bend radius.
The far-point of the first bend is the same as the near-point of the second (following) bend.
The user is recommended to put nodes at the mid point of each bend comprising the 180 degree return. (See the example
below.)
180 Degree Bend
DX = 2R
Chapter 2 Bends 2-5
Mitered Bends
Evenly spaced mitered bends, whether closely or widely spaced, are uniquely defined by two parameters:
Number of cuts (changes in direction)
Equivalent radius <or> miter spacing.
For closely spaced miters the equivalent radius is equal to the code defined “R1” for B31.3 and “R” for B31.1. The equation
relating the equivalent radius to the spacing for evenly spaced miters is:
Req = S / [ 2 tan( ) ]
Where:
Req - equivalent miter bend radius
S - spacing of the miter cuts along the centerline
- code defined half-angle between adjacent miter cuts:
= / 2N
Where:
- total bend angle
N - number of cuts
An additional parameter B (length of miter segment at crotch) is checked for closely spaced miters when using B31.1. B
may be found for evenly spaced miters from:
B = S [ 1 - ro / Req ]
Where:
ro - outside radius of pipe cross-section.
2-6 Bends
Closely Spaced Mitered Bend
Miter bends are closely spaced if:
S < r [ 1 + tan ( ) ]
Where:
S - miter spacing
r - average pipe cross section radius: (ri+ro)/2
- one-half the angle between adjacent miter cuts.
B31.1 has the additional requirements that:
B > 6 tn
22.5 deg.
B - length of the miter segment at the crotch.
tn - nominal wall thickness of pipe.
Closely spaced miters regardless of the number of miter cuts may be entered as a single bend. CAESAR II will always
calculate the spacing from the bend radius. If the user has the miter spacing and not the bend radius, the radius must be
calculated as shown below.
The mitered bend shown below has 4 cuts through 90 degrees and a spacing of 15.913 in.
Req = S / [ 2 tan ( ) ]
= / 2N
= 90 / [2(4)]
= 11.25 deg.
Req = 15.913 / [2 tan (11.25 deg.)]
= 40
Chapter 2 Bends 2-7
Closely Spaced Miter Bend
2-8 Bends
Widely Spaced Mitered Bend
Mitered bends are widely spaced if:
S r * [1 + tan ( )]
S - spacing between miter points along the miter segment centerline.
r - average cross section radius (ri+ro)/2
- one-half angle between adjacent miter cuts.
B31.1 has the additional requirement that:
22.5 deg.
In CAESAR II, widely spaced miters must be entered as individual, single cut miters, each having a bend radius equal to:
R = r [1 + cot ( )] / 2
R - reduced bend radius for widely spaced miters.
During error checking, CAESAR II will produce a warning message for each mitered component, which does not pass the test
for a closely spaced miter. These components should be re-entered as a group of single cut joints
Widely Spaced Miter
Pipe O.D. = 10.375 in. Assuming closely spaced:
Pipe Thk. = 0.500 in. = /2 =90/(2 2) =22.5 deg.
Bend Angle = 90 º S = R eq [2tan(Q)]
Cuts = 2 = 45[2tan(22.5)]
= 37.279 in.
Req = 45 in.
Now check s r2 [1+tan(Q)]
r2 [1+tan(Q)] = 4.9375[1+ tan(22.5)] = 6.9826 in.
37.279>6.9826 The miter is widely spaced.
Chapter 2 Bends 2-9
Widely Spaced Miter
Calculate the coordinates to get from the tangent intersection point of the single cut miter bend at node 10 to the single
cut miter bend at node 15.
Note: The straight pipe section coming into and going out of the bend must be Reqsin ( ).
2
r
R= [1+cot(Q)]
2
= ( 4.9375 2 ) [1+cot(22.5)]
= 8.4288 in.
DX = S×cos(45)
= 37.279×cos(45)
= 26.360 in.
DY = S×sin(45)
= 37.279sin(45)
= 26.360 in.
2-10 Bends
Widely Spaced Miters ... Continued
Input widely spaced miters as individual straight pipe elements, with bends specified, having one miter cut.
Coming up to the first cut. Between the first and second cuts.
Coming out of the second cut.
Chapter 2 Bends 2-11
Elbows - Different Wall Thickness
When the fitting thickness in the bend auxiliary field is entered, CAESAR II changes the thickness of the curved portion of
the bend element only. The thickness of any preceding or following straight pipe is unaffected.
The specified fitting thickness applies for the current elbow only and is not carried on to any subsequent elbows in the job.
Stresses at the elbow are calculated based on the section modulus of the matching pipe as specified in the B31 codes.
However, stress intensification factors and flexibility factors for the bend are based on the elbow wall thickness.
Thick Elbow
Note: The elbow at 10 has a thickness larger than the matching pipe wall. The
matching pipe has a thickness of 0.5.
2-12 Bends
Bend Flexibility Factor
Normally bend flexibility factors are calculated according to code requirements. However, the user may override the code
calculation by entering a value in the K-factor field. For example, if the user enters 1.5 in this field, the bend will be 1.5
times as flexible as a straight pipe of the same length.
