RandomAxe
Mechanical
- May 13, 2013
- 61
I'm modelling a section of 12" pipeline/spools that consist of a straight section of pipe (50m) followed by a 45degree bend and a 100m straight section that ties into a structure (anchored in the model). I have applied 400mm of pipeline expansion to the straight section of spoolpiece. I am looking at the displacements in the model to verify it is moving as expected, but at the 45degree bend and I am getting approx 400mm axial (x) displacement as expected but also up to 350mm displacement in z direction, I thought this may be due to thermal expansion of the other 100m length but I am getting similar displacements for a loadcase consisting of just gravity and pipeline expansion (displacement). What could be causing this? Obviously there will be some movement in the z direction caused by the 100m length of spool downstream of the 45degree bend frictional resistance, but I wouldn't of expected an expansion of 400mm to result in a resultant displacement at the bend of 500mm?