Limit load analysis for the piping branch junctions under in-plane moment

An approximate analysis approach for plastic limit load of piping branch junctions, by means of the relationship of the internal force between the main and branch pipes around intersection line, is presented in this work. The approach is built on the following process: based on the external force equilibrium condition, an equation between the limit load and internal force of the branch pipe around intersection is derived firstly. And then, taking this internal force as an external force acting on the intersection of the main pipe, the approximate solution of the internal force around the intersection on the main pipe is given as a function of the limit load. Finally, referring to the von-Mises yield criterion, the limit load of component with two intersecting cylindrical shells is then obtained. In use of the proposed approach, a closed form of limit load solution for piping branch junction under in-plane moment is developed. Finite element (FE) models of the idealized piping branch junction with various diameters and wall-thickness of the main and branch pipes were analyzed by using nonlinear FE software. The limit loads from FE analysis, from the proposed solution and six experimental data of real piping branch junctions are compared. Overall good agreement between the different limit loads was observed which provides confidence in the use of the proposed formulae in practice.