Does vertical u-bolt pipe support b

[SHA229]

Does vertical u-bolt pipe support bear pipe weight?

 

[LittleInch]

Depends how much you tighten the U bolts.

I hate U bolts. Very unreliable and subject to many variations, the amount of tightening being one.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[MJCronin]

Agree with LittleInch ....

In my opinion, the primary function of U-bolts is to keep te piping system "on the supporting steel" in th event of upset or shock ..

Based on that function, U-Bolts should not be tightened at all .. That was the position that the Nuclear Power Industry took in te 1980s

As the industry matured, several vendors began to publish information on "load rated" heavy duty u-bolts ... meant to act as guides

Am not quite sure what you mean with "vertical u-bolt pipe support" ...

Can you provide more information ? ... are you performing a detailed stress analysis and developing support loads ?

More info and a sketch will get you better answers ...

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

 

[mk3223]

IMO, you can use it, but can't count for it.

 

[Snickster]

Typical detail for u-bolt support for veritcal riser I use has a lug welded to the pipe above the u-bolt that bears on the u-bolt to carry the weight. I would not do this except for only smaller diameter pipe. Otherwise I would not count on u-bolt since you don't know how tight it will be tightened and if it would come loose.

 

[TugboatEng]

A class of oil tanker ships used u-bolts to secure piping in deck that ran the length of the ship. The u-bolts failed regularly due to flexing of the hull. It was later that the operators realized the u-bolts are not supposed to be tight. There is a reason u-bolts ship with double nuts.