Theoretical Analysis of the Stresses in Pipe Bends Subjected to Out-of-Plane Bending

Abstract

Most of the experimental and theoretical work on the flexure of pipe bends has concerned bending in the plane of the bend but comparison of the results of some experiments using out-of-plane bending with calculations based on existing theories indicated a need for a more exact theoretical analysis of this form of loading. In this paper a comprehensive theoretical treatment of the elastic flexure of curved tubes already published for in-plane bending has been adapted to deal with out-of-plane bending. The equations for both forms of loading have been programmed for solution by a digital computer and a design procedure is suggested to find the maximum stresses due to combined in-plane, out-of-plane and torsional bending moments.