There's no technical reason why the brace is not acceptable for use with a pipe cap. This construction was simply overlooked recently when the pipe cap component was added to COMPRESS. I have added this issue to our program development list.

COMPRESS does not investigate stress or buckling in the brace plate during lifting, or in the head at the brace attachment during lifting (or during operation due to constraint at the brace attachment). A Warning message indicates this and another warning indicates that the brace plate should be removed before the vessel is put into operation. An interesting question is whether or not the pipe cap can still be considered to be a standard pressure part per UG-44 given that it has been welded on with temporary attachments.

Note that the "pipe cap" component in COMPRESS allows the designer to specify a standard B16.9 pipe cap. The required thickness and pressure rating (MAWP) will be determined using the rules of UG-44 where "pressure-temperature ratings shall be calculated as for straight seamless pipe of the same schedule".

But if a nozzle is attached to the pipe cap the head no longer qualifies as a "standard pressure component" (it has been modified) and the required thickness for the pipe cap (and in the nozzle reinforcing calculations) is based on an ellipsoidal head.



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