Some Basic Formulae for Piping

Length of leg to absorb thermal expansion

L 66 D

D= Diameter (mm or in)

= Expansion (mm or in)
Lo (T2 T1 )

A Conservative formula for external pressure calculations (a long pipe under external
pressure)
Pall

2E
t / D 3
2
3(1 )

E = Elastic Modulus
= Poissons ratio
Axial Buckling Stress
S all 0.125 Et / D

Guided Cantilever Beam Formula

12 EI

L3
FL 6 EI
M
2
2
L
F

Bending stress
M
MD

Z
2I

I
Do4 Di4
64

Allowable Span based on stress

L

10 ZS / w

where S = allowable stress, Z = Section modulus, w = weight density

Allowable Span based on sagging
L 4 128 EI / w