The Accepting of Pipe Bends With Ovality and Thinning Using Finite Element Method

Thinning and ovality are commonly observed irregularities in pipe bends, which induce higher stress than perfectly circular cross sections. In this work, the stresses introduced in pipe bends with different ovalities and thinning for a particular internal pressure are calculated using the finite element method. The constant allowable pressure ratio for different ovalities and thinning is presented at different bend radii. The allowable pressure ratio increases, attains a maximum, and then decreases as the values of ovality and thinning are increased. An empirical relationship to determine the allowable pressure in terms of bend ratio, pipe ratio, percent thinning, and percent ovality is presented. The pipe ratio has a strong effect on the allowable pressure.