Piping thermal expansion stress limits for ASME Section III Class 2 and 3 piping are directly based on the original thermal expansion rules for B31.1 piping published in 1955. Temperature limits for B31 piping are much higher than for Class 2/3 nuclear piping. The fundamental concern in 1955 for piping design was to prevent cyclic creep strains, and the thermal expansion rules were based on a strain range criterion. Fatigue was also a concern, and a stress-range reduction factor for cyclic conditions was incorporated into the strain-based rule. The history and development of the B31.1 thermal expansion rules are summarized. After review of the technical basis, it becomes evident that the nuclear Class 2/3 rules can be simplified and improved by changing to an explicit fatigue-based rule rather than the strain-based rule of B31.1. Recommended Section III code revisions are provided with discussion of related technical issues.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2011
Research Papers
Recommended Revisions to Nuclear Piping Thermal Expansion Stress Limits
Gerry Slagis
Gerry Slagis
Fellow ASME
Search for other works by this author on:
Gerry Slagis
Fellow ASME
J. Pressure Vessel Technol. Apr 2011, 133(2): 021102 (7 pages)
Published Online: January 31, 2011
Article history
Received:
July 13, 2007
Revised:
December 16, 2009
Online:
January 31, 2011
Published:
January 31, 2011
Citation
Slagis, G. (January 31, 2011). "Recommended Revisions to Nuclear Piping Thermal Expansion Stress Limits." ASME. J. Pressure Vessel Technol. April 2011; 133(2): 021102. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002256
Download citation file:
81
Views
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
The Behavior of Elbow Elements at Pure Bending Applications Compared to Beam and Shell Element Models
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (February 2025)
Related Articles
A Technique for Deducing In-Plane Modulus and Coefficient of Thermal
Expansion of a Supported Thin Film
J. Eng. Mater. Technol (April,2002)
On Failure Mechanisms in Flip Chip Assembly—Part 1: Short-Time Scale Wave Motion
J. Electron. Packag (June,2008)
Digital Photothermoelastic and Numerical Analysis of Transient Thermal Stresses in Cracked Bimaterial Interfaces
J. Appl. Mech (July,2009)
Performance of Dissimilar Welds in Service
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (August,1985)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Openings
Guidebook for the Design of ASME Section VIII Pressure Vessels, Third Edition
Openings
Guidebook for the Design of ASME Section VIII Pressure Vessels
Subsection NB—Class 1 Components
Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Codes, Volume 1 Sixth Edition