A Pipe Bend Subject to a Uniformly Distributed Radial Force

Abstract

The effects of a distributed radial load on an elbow or bend within a piping system, caused by changes in momentum due to fluid flow, can be represented by one or more point loads. Simplified methods result in inaccurate results in some cases. Modeling the bend with multiple nodes and forces increases accuracy. The method presented here will provide accurate results, comparable to breaking up the bend into many nodes and forces. A number of example analyses are presented for comparison with simplified modeling methods and the potential importance of considering momentum change forces in some power piping geometries are discussed.