PIPESTRESS

Nuclear Piping Analysis Software

Generalities

• Performs all calculations required by the nuclear (and non nuclear) piping codes in a single program execution
• Has been continuously maintained for more than 40 years
• Has been used by more than 400 engineering organizations in 30 countries to analyze piping in more than 50 nuclear power plants
• Is being used as the main piping analysis software for calculations in the new reactors: EPR, AP1000 and AC-1000. Many of the piping calculations for Westinghouse AP600 plant were performed using PIPESTRESS and these calculations were accepted by the US NRC when they issued a standard plant license for the AP600
• Approved by the US NRC for AP1000 piping calculations.

Main Features

• Linear and non-linear calculations
• Up to 500 user-defined load and combination cases
• Heat transfer and thermal gradient stress
• Fatigue analysis (usage factor)
• Thermal stratification
• Mixed class
• Response spectra in Cartesian or cylindrical coordinates
• Response cases with up to 99 independent support levels
• Modal superposition by grouping, double sum, CQC and other methods
• Time history analysis by generalized response or true time history methods
• Selective "true" time history analysis
• Determination of rigid cut-off frequency for time history analysis
• Rigid mode correction for all dynamic analysis methods
• Strain energy weighted composite modal damping for time history and response analysis
• Very large structures with no topological limitations
• Element dimensions in Cartesian, cylindrical, spherical or sloping coordinates
• Erosion and corrosion
• Buried piping
• Flange verification according to various codes and methods (equivalent pressure, Taylor Forge, etc.)
• Translators from other analysis programs
• Theory manual: rigorous mathematical formulation of static and dynamic piping analysis