Seismic piping stress companies provide valuable engineering services to help protect industrial infrastructure from seismic events. They use advanced software and engineering expertise to simulate how piping systems will respond to seismic ground movement and calculate the forces on them. This helps industries prepare and reinforce their piping networks to minimize damage, reduce safety risks, and ensure operational continuity. This article takes a closer look at the world of seismic piping stress companies and their vital role in ensuring the integrity of critical industrial equipment in many different sectors.
Piping systems in oil and gas, power generation, and petrochemical production facilities are typically exposed to high levels of vibration, expansion and contraction, which can cause them to deform or move under certain conditions. Seismic piping stress companies offer professional engineering and technical support to address these challenges, as well as other factors that can affect a piping system’s structural integrity. These companies also play an essential role in ensuring the safety and reliability of these complex industrial systems by helping them comply with applicable codes, regulations, and industry standards.
When it comes to seismic piping analysis, the type of calculation used depends on multiple factors, including the geographical location (seismic risk), the structure’s seismic design category, and the specific characteristics of the piping system, such as material, size, and content. The most common methods of seismic analysis for piping systems include dynamic and static analyses. Dynamic analysis is the most commonly used method, and it requires a model to be developed for each pipe segment in the system. This model accounts for all bending stresses, supports reactions, and pressure loads in the system. Static analysis, on the other hand, simply divides the seismic load into a series of components, each of which is subjected to a specific lateral force at the peak acceleration. This approach translates the seismic load into a bending load that is then applied to each of the pipe segments in the system.
Once a model has been developed, the appropriate seismic supports must be selected for each segment of the piping system. These supports must be sturdy enough to maintain the structural integrity of the piping, but flexible enough to dissipate the seismic energy generated by an earthquake. There are a variety of seismic support solutions available, such as sway braces, spring hangers, and expansion anchors.
When selecting a seismic piping stress company it is important to select one with extensive experience in both dynamic and static analysis. Little P.Eng. Engineering has a team of highly experienced engineers with a wide range of engineering skills that are used in the analysis and design of piping systems. Our team of experts understands how the thermal expansion and contraction of mechanical piping systems interact with seismic bracing design and placement, which in turn determines how seismic supports are designed for the system. This often eliminates expensive components such as spider guides and allows us to design a system with a simple seismic brace and standard hanger, saving you both time and money.