Limit Loads for Pipe Elbows With Internal Pressure Under In-Plane Closing Bending Moments

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine limit loads for pipe elbows subjected to in-plane bending moments that tend to close the elbow (i.e., decrease its radius of curvature), and the influence of internal pressure on the value of the limit load. Load-deflection curves were obtained, and from these curves plastic collapse or instability loads at various values of internal pressure were determined. This was done for different pipe bend factors (h = Rt/r2) using the nonlinear finite element analysis code (ABAQUS) with its special elbow element. The limit load was found to increase and then decrease with increasing pressure for all the elbow geometries studied.