Limit Loads for Pipe Elbows Subjected to In-Plane Opening Moments and Internal Pressure

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Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine limit loads for pipe elbows subjected to inplane bending moments that tend to open the elbow (i.e., increase 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 and 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. A set of limit curves was generated from the results. These curves show the variation of collapse and instability loads with internal pressure for different elbows. Collapse loads were found to increase and then decrease with increasing pressure for all the elbow geometries studied. Instability loads were difficult to reach because of the large stiffening effect of the elbow cross-sectional deformation, and they were generally found to decrease with increasing pressure.