Attention: Please see the following AutoPIPE help section:
Help > Contents> Contents Tab> Modeling Approaches> Modeling Approaches>

This help has been provided in order to give users ideas for modeling typical piping arrangements. The steps shown in each example should not be taken as the only method available to create models. In addition, the intent of the examples is to present ways to create adequate models of specific piping components for analytical purposes.

          Anchors        Bends
          Cuts              Flexible Joints
          Frames         Hangers
          Nozzles        Pipes
          Reducers      Rotating Equipment
          Supports       Tees
          Valves           Vessels

Questions and Answer:

1. Modeling an Elbow with Tappered weld joint for Nuclear NB analysis
   
   Model elbow as described above, at each end of the elbow where the elbow is welded to the pipe, Insert> Xtra Data> joint Type and User SIF> there are multiple "Joint Type"  available
   
        As-Welded Butt Weld
        Flush Butt Weld
        As-Welded Butt Weld NB 4250 Transition
        Flush Butt Weld NB 4250 Transition
        As-Welded Butt Weld 1:3 Transition
        Flush Butt Weld 1:3 Transition
        Socket/Fillet Weld
   
   Select the type of weld joint the best fits your requirements based on code description.
   
   In AutoPIPE, press toolbar icon "Show Joint Type", located on left toolbar near the bottom. Use this feature to clearly see where joint types have been applied, and review the "Joint Type, SIF" tab of the input grid for settings.

2.  Modeling 3D, 5D or Larger Sweep Elbows 

   AutoPIPE's Bend Point dialog screen has a Bend radius field which defaults to Long radius with pull down option for short radius.
   
   
   
   You can either select short radius or, for a larger sweep elbow, click once on the Bend radius field and type the actual radius (units are in bottom right hand corner of screen).

3. Inserting Valves, Reducers Or Other Components After Elbow Or After Tee
   
   A bend component is made up of 4 node points:
   
   A. Near Point  - automatically generated
   B. Tagent Interface Point (TIP)  - user generated
   C. Far Point  - automatically generated
   D. Mid Point (if enabled)  -  user specified between Near and Far Point.
   
   AutoPIPE does not allow users to insert the next node point or component between the Bend's Near and Far points. If done so, the bend cannot be drawn and a warning will be mentioned in the Tools> Model Consistency check report. User must first enter a pipe run directly after an elbow TIP point to just beyond the automatically generated Near OR Far points before adding the next piping component  
   
   This means that there will be 2 points, a bend point and a run point, very close to one another. The should not be exactly in the same location, or another warning will be displayed about a zero length run.
   
   For inserting valves and other components directly after a tee, AutoPIPE requires that the user first input a run of pipe after the tee before inserting the component to model the leg / branch weld of the tee.

See Also

Bentley AutoPIPE

External Links

Bentley Technical Support KnowledgeBase

Bentley LEARN Server

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