Analysis of Piping With Flexible Joints

Abstract

A method is described for the analysis of structural systems containing flexible joints. The formalism of mechanical systems theory is employed to show that there always exists at least one rigid-jointed system equivalent to a system with flexible joints. In practice, the flexibility components of a joint are obtained experimentally; the prerequisite transformations are described. The analysis is illustrated by an example, showing that joint flexibility may be a significant factor in the stress analysis of a piping network. It is also shown that the equivalent rigid-jointed system cannot be given a physical representation. Finally, the best physically realizable approximation is given for a tee or a wye joint.