FEA Complexity Made Simple

FEPipe ™

The Pressure Vessel and Piping

Design Program

www.paulin.com
Sales: 281-920-9775
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FEPipe
™

What is FEPipe?
FEPipe is a template-based software solution specifically designed for the pressure vessel and
piping (PV&P) industries. Based on the chosen template, FEPipe uses Finite Element Analysis
(FEA) to comply with the ASME BPV Section VIII Division 2 guidelines. What separates FEPipe
from general-purpose FEA software packages is its ability to rapidly construct PV&P geometries
and produce ASME code compliance reports. Instead of generalized stress results, FEPipe displays
results in terms of ASME compliance requirements.

FEPipe’s use of the parametric approach allows analysts to construct accurate models using only
dimensional input. FEPipe automatically creates the model geometry, element mesh and boundary
conditions based on a user’s dimensions of the applied loads with the ability to edit the model in the
Drawing Tools.

What does FEPipe include?

FEPipe Software Capabilities
FEPipe supports several model elements
for rapid modeling and analysis as well
as an extensive element library that is
easily searchable. The table below further
outlines this:

Component Element Type/Capability

• Unreinforced Fabricated Tee

• Pad Reinforced Fabricated Tee
• Hillside Tee
• Welding Tee
Shell • Y-Fitting Tee
• Bend with Trunnion
• Tank Settlement
• Low Tank Nozzle
• Tangential Nozzle

• Unreinforced Fabricated Tee

• Pad Reinforced Fabricated Tee
Brick • Olet Intersection
• Axisymmetric Flange Modeler
• Generalized Axisymmetric Geometries from NozzlePRO
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Additional Software Capabilities (continued)

Component Element Type/Capability

• Eccentric or Concentric Conical Heads with or without

Knuckle Radii
• Cylindrical shell
• Dished head
Vessels
• Elliptical head
• Flat head
• Hemispherical head
• Spherical

• Round nozzles on shells

• Detailed Taper Weld Models
• Oblo-rectangular nozzles on shells
• Pad-reinforced and self-reinforced nozzles
Nozzles • Gusset reinforced nozzles
• Tangential nozzle on heads
• Nozzles within intersections of heads and shells
• Large nozzles on heads that cross the vessel centerline
• Rectangular Header Boxes

• Structural steel on shells

• Skirts on vertical vessels
Supports • Two (multiple) saddle models
• Arbitrary saddle modeling including stacked vessels
• Arbitrary support construction

• Round nozzles on bends

• Structural steel on bends
Bends
• Mitered bends
• Circumferential Thickness Variations

• Flange leakage
Flanges
• Flange stress

• Tank nozzles per API 650

Tanks
• Round Rat-hole / Oblo-rectangular

• Shell Models of Straight Piping Components

Connective Modeling • Bends, Straight, Annular Plates, Heads combined in any
order.

Additionally, FEATools, is also included in FEPipe. FEATools transforms your

piping (CAESAR II and PCL-Gold) by including upgraded branch connections
(with the addition of rigid elements and restraints) to better simulate real-world
displacement and forces. The FEA-based calculations provide the necessary
k-factors, Stress Sustained Indexes (SSIs) and Sustained Intensification Factors
(SIFs) that will be added to every branch connection.
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i Here’s how it works:

Step 1: In FEATools, run the piping model file (CAESAR II or PCL-Gold) to generate FEA-based SIFs,
SSIs and k-factors.

Step 2: Re-run the piping model file (CAESAR II or PCL-Gold) analysis to get more accurate stresses,
loads, displacements and life cycles.

Features in FEPipe
FEPipe encompasses a variety of features and capabilities to automate and create efficiency for PV&P design
and analysis.

Analysis
FEPipe supports a variety of analysis features for loads
and load cases, nonlinear and linear analysis, and more.

Loads
• Weight, operating, occasional, thermal and • Combination loads through the branch and
pressure run (improvement of WRC107) -branch only
• Wind and seismic loads • Bends with Trunnion Models structural or
• Acceleration due to ship motion or round attachments
transportation • Non-linear Collapse load model
• Internal or external pressure perturbation and buckling for any shell
• Applied point or surface loadings geometry
• Piping loads applied to nozzles • Automatic SIF, SSI, k values and allowable
loads

Nonlinear
• Evaluates flaws or cracks in pressurized or • Provides +Y simple nonlinear supports for
loaded components using a Level 2 and 3 saddles, pipe shoes and similar geometries
fitness-for-service analysis • Leak-Before-Break linear and nonlinear
• Nonlinear analysis using plasticity, large pressure fatigue on nozzles and olets
rotation and large strain
• Automated nonlinear SSI and collapse
calculations for bends, heads, branches or
saddles (all shell geometries)

Other Analysis
• Dynamic/modal and harmonic analysis • Eigenvalue buckling
• Steady state and transient thermal analysis • Stress stiffening for large displacement
• Fatigue analysis
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Design and Code Guidance on Advanced Geometries

Design and code assistance and reporting is available
through FEPipe, and even includes built-in WRC calculators to
expedite the design process.

• WRC 107/297 design guidance for spheres, • Provides guidance on the Acoustic
elliptical and dished heads Induced Vibration Update (AIV) for
• Recommended SCF for pressure stress determining frequency ranges and stress
• Bar supports and local thin areas results for high frequencies.
• ASME Section VIII Div 2 guidance

PCL-Gold Pipe Stress Module

PCL-Gold is a standalone module that is included in FEPipe and is
the first pipe stress program to automatically run finite element
analysis on local intersections. Additionally features include:

• Auto fatigue damage calcs for multiple • Hinged expansion joints with friction
load cases • FEA for i-factor and k-factor modeling
• Path dependent or convergent friction • i-factors/k-factors for flat, conical, elliptical,
algorithm spherical and dished heads
• Refractory lined piping or Glass-lined • Pressure fatigue
piping • SuperElement results

As a standalone module, PCL-Gold also connects to the latest version for FEATools. To find out more, visit https://www.paulin.com/pcl-gold .

Programs in FEPipe
Along with a variety of features, FEPipe utilizes several programs. A few include:

The Drawing Tools allows the user

to add gussets, rings, clips and other
attachments to an existing model.

FEPipe’s Fitness for Service program, API 579 Fitness for

Service, allows for the direct entry of flaw or corrosion details.
Users can enter the flaw dimensions directly (into the Critical
Flaw Dimensions section), or the dimensions can be entered in
a spreadsheet grid and the Critical Flaw Dimensions section will
be automatically calculated. Users can also define the defect on
the model graphically.

Users can add Local Thin Areas (LTA) and crack-like flaws using
FEPipe, NozzlePRO or the Drawing Tools to perform API 579
or ASME FFS-1 Level 2 or 3 type analysis.
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Additional Programs

Program Program Summary

NozzlePRO is a standalone solution that enables users to quickly and easily
NozzlePRO
perform FEA of individual pressure vessel and piping components.

Is PRG’s own materials database that includes high temperature curves,

allowable stress plots, NH reporting, creep-fatigue interaction diagrams,
MatPRO
elastic-plastic stress strain curves and fatigue curves generated as a function
of creep temperature.

FEA of flanged joints and other axisymmetric geometries. 3D, nonlinear finite
element models of gaskets, bolts and flanges are used to calculate stresses,
FlangePro displacements and leakage in and around the flanged joint. Code evaluations
of the joint are performed in accordance with ASME Section VIII-1 Appendix 2,
ASME BFJ and EN13445 Annex G.

BoxPro analyzes header box nozzles for air-cooled heat exchangers. It also
performs tube load analysis for multiple nozzle loads per ASME Section
BoxPro
VIII-1 Appendix A per API 661. All nozzle loads are applied to the perforated
tubesheet and analyzed per ASME 2004-Div. 2 Art 4-9.

FE107 replaces WRC 107 and 537 as a calculation tool that can be applied
when WRC 107 or WRC 297 correlations or assumptions are limited. ASME
FE107
Section VIII Division 2 allowables are printed along with flexibilities and
allowable loads for forces, moments and pressure.

FESIF Calculates SIFs and k-factors for standard B31 branch connection geometries.

Provides a FEA of contoured tees per user input, B16.9 or EN10253. EN10253
types A and B tees can be defined and thickness profiles determined and
appropriate finite element models constructed. Elastic models to produce SIFs
FETee and k-factors are generated automatically, along with nonlinear calculations
(with or without pressure) for SSIs and loads thru the branch or run. Users may
locally thin tees, define the crotch radius and/or the thickness profile around the
branch to run penetration line.

Provides a FEA calculation of the local stress and SIFs, SSIs and k-factors
FEBend for 90 degree elbows with and without supports. Supports include round
stanchion as well as structural attachments.

For piping systems in which there are well-known weaknesses in code

PCL-Gold Pipe Stress approaches, PCL-Gold provides an alternative method for determining
whether or not the weakness can cause a potential problem.

Compares CAESAR II or PCL-Gold selected nodes’ restraint loads at shoe

support locations with the allowable loads from a library of FEA shoe supports
Pipe Shoe Design Wizard
for every load case in the piping model. The comparison provides shoe design
capabilities as well as validation that existing shoes are appropriately designed.
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Additional Programs (continued)

Program Program Summary

Acoustic Induced Vibration (AIV) calculation includes the prediction of sound
pressure levels measurable away from the surface of the vessel. This tool
is used mainly to estimate strength of branch connections and elbows with
trunnions when compared a straight pipe.

High Frequency PRG performs high frequency vibration tests to confirm surface integration
and prediction of damaging SPL.

Methods in IEC 60534-8-3 for gas flows are used to generate predicted SPL
spectrum. Stresses in high frequency modes are scaled to match defined
spectrum responses and predict expected cycle lives.

Performs fatigue analysis and cycle counting for piping systems that were built
using CAESAR II or PCLGold. This tool can be used in the following situations:

• When cycles are outside limits

Cumulative Damage • When fatigue limits exist in a piping system
• When known fluid loading produces high cycle forces
• When cracks or local thin areas are present
• When multiple significant thermal and/or pressure cycles are present
• Elastic follow-up evaluation

The fluid-structure interaction using frequency domain analysis of piping

BOS B31
systems is used to comply with the B31.3 loading requirements in Para. 301.5.

Compares SIFs and k-factors from B31 and other codes for branch connections
SIF / SSI / K (PRGik) and elbows. Hyper Degree of Freedom (HyperDOF) calculations can be
performed for elbows with and without supports with refractory.

Predicts crack growth for given stress states in components to know when the
Flaw Detection crack will reach half wall and/or thru wall for leaks. This is a quick calculation
based on observed crack growth in tested low carbon steel components.

Plant scan data (point cloud data) processing is combined with 3D modeling
MimOut Point Clouds utilities to compare computer model estimates of what is in the field to what
physically exists. Both high and low-resolution editing is provided.

Available with all modules except AxiPRO, the Drawing Tools provide hundreds
Drawing Tools
of small functions to modify, evaluate and document the model created.

This capability computes burst pressures, sustained stress indices, twice

Nonlinear Analysis
elastic slope load levels, and a variety of load and unload conditions.

Perform level 1, level 2 and level 3 (through the Drawing Tools) Fitness for
Service calculations. Local thin areas and cracks can be added into the model
Fitness for Service for level 3 calculations. API 579/ASME FFS-1 allows the use of ASME Section
VIII Division 2 Part 5 for Elastic, Elastic-Perfectly Plastic and Elastic-Plastic
FEA analysis.

Transform your piping model (from CAESAR II and PCL-Gold) by including

upgraded branch connections (with the addition of rigid elements and
FEATools restraints) to better simulate real-world displacement and forces. The FEA-based
calculations provide the necessary k-factors, SSIs and SIFs that will be added to
every branch connection.
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Why Choose FEPipe?

FEPipe has been designed specifically for pipe designers and pressure vessel designers and
fabricators to help prevent the common design, analysis and fatigue problems faced by engineers
today. With the extensive features and knowledge behind FEPipe, users can feel confident designing
their models for ASME code compliance with ease. With FEPipe, you can increase performance,
shorten design cycles and reduce costs.

Additionally, Paulin Research Group develops their own research and methods and tests their theories
in live simulations. Element formulations and related output have been compared against classical hand
calculations and benchmarked against other general FEA software tools. Other research includes strain
gauge measurements, burst tests, fatigue tests, cryogenic work, heat transfer experiments as well as
acoustic vibration tests as shown below.

The Caesar II software product, and any copyrights or trademarks thereof, are the property of Hexagon, Inc.

Hexagon no longer sells PRG software products like FEATools or NozzlePRO. If you have any questions
regarding licenses purchased through Hexagon, please contact our sales group at [email protected].

www.paulin.com
Sales: 281-920-9775