Spring Load

[edwardhong]

Everybody, Sometimes, I am confused about spring load. Is it only sustained load or combined load including thermal load? As far as I know, the purpose of using spring support is to resist sustained load, but absorb thermal movement. Please reply to this.

Thanks,

 

[richay]

The purpose of the spring to to carry the "weight" load of the piping, regardless of the load case. Springs are usually designed for the "hot" condition of the piping - in other words, the "weight load" is determined for the hot condition. This means that the spring is balanced in this (hot) condition.

For other load cases, when the piping moves, the load on the spring changes. Because of this, there is some redistribution of the weight load from/to the hanger and to/from nearby restraints.

Richard Ay
COADE, Inc.

 

[DSB123]

richay,
The load on the spring doesn't change it's the spring supporting effort that changes due to spring characteristics unless it's a constant load spring when the supporting effort is constant.