Shortcut Method for “L” and “Z” Pipe Bend Sizing

Abstract

In the engineering practice, it may often prove necessary to provide quick and relatively accurate estimates of piping routing and material requirements in very early stages of a project. In these cases, there is typically no time to perform detailed pipe stress analysis in order to obtain accurate routing, which allows for sufficient piping system flexibility, and the designer is constrained to the use of rule of thumb approach and good engineering judgment. This approach, although often used, may prove challenging in many situations, one of which is establishing sufficient pipe loop dimensions. Method proposed by the authors in Jacimovic and Ivosevic (2020, “Shortcut Method for Pipe Expansion Loop Sizing,” ASME J. Pressure Vessel Technol. 142(4), p. 041505) provides a procedure for quick estimation of U loops, while the present procedure aims to provide additional procedures for estimation of L and Z bends, thus completing the circle of shortcut methods for quick estimation of expansion requirements of piping systems.