Tech Briefs

Dynamic Analysis of Piping System

The animation shows the dynamic analysis of a simplified piping system, similar to those used in nuclear power plants. The analysis is performed using the ADINA subsonic potential-based fluid elements to model the water in the pipe and the ADINA 4-node shell elements (MITC4 elements) to model the pipe walls.

The pipe is supported by flanges at the bottom of the model and filled with water under pressure. At time 1.0, an additional pressure pulse is applied to the water at the bottom left end of the pipe. The pressure pulse propagates in the water. When the pressure pulse hits the left corner of the pipe (shown enlarged in the animation), high stresses are generated in the pipe walls at that corner.