What is FE-SIF?
Classical pipe stress analysis programs use piping beam elements that are constrained to the
limitations inherent with beam elements. For example, beam elements do not capture the effect
of ovalization where the cross section of the pipe deforms away from the unloaded round geometry.
To compensate for the limitations, correction factors are applied to the beam models to more
closely match the flexibility and stresses of the pipe to reality. The correction factors,
flexibilities and stress intensification factors (SIFs), are based on analytical and empirical relations
correlated to piping component geometries. The accuracy of the correlations depends on the
geometries of the piping components.
FE-SIF brings finite element analysis (FEA) to the piping designer's toolkit to provide
accurate SIF and flexibility factor calculations for all geometries and load conditions.
FE-SIF can be used to calculate correction factors for components outside the correlational
limits of standardized design codes and for components with no guidance in the design codes.
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Using FE-SIF
FEA technology is well understood and reliable but has been used sparingly because general purpose
finite element software programs have been too complicated to input the model and to interpret the
results on a daily basis. FE-SIF is designed to calculate SIFs and flexibilities with minimal input
to generate reliable results that can be easily transferred to pipe stress programs.
The input interface provides visual guidance that indicates the geometric input as you proceed to
build the model The results are presented in tables that are easy to understand and apply to your
pipe stress program.
What geometries can be analyzed?
Parent piping component
- Conical
- Cylinder
- Elliptical
- Flat
- Flanged and dished
- Hemispherical
Branch or nozzle position
Branch or nozzle type
- Straight (unreinforced)
- Pad reinforced
- Barrel (self-reinforced)
What results are calculated?
Graphical Results
FE-SIF includes the FE/Pipe graphical viewer that can be used to interrogate calculated
displacement and stress patterns. The viewer provides insight into the interaction between
loading and resulting displacement.
Tabular Results
Summarized results are reported in tabular format for quick evaluation and application
in pipe stress analysis programs. Allowable loads,
flexibilities and
stress intensification factors are presented in easy-to-read
grid tables.
Rich Format Reports
FE-SIF write a comprehensive report in rich text format that includes full graphical and
tabular results. The report is fully compatible with most word processing programs such
as Microsoft® Word®.
Sample Report