A Brief Description of Sway Brace, Strut and Snubber

(Dynamic Restraints) for pipe supporting for process

industries
August 22, 2015 3 Comments
64
2
0
0
0
Wheneverunplanneddynamiceventsoccur,dynamicrestraintscarrytheresponsibilityofprotecting
thepipingandothercomponentsfromdamage.

Undesirableabruptmovementofthecomponentsinthesystemcanbecausedby:

Pressureshocksfromvalveoperation/PSV

Waterhammer

Boilerevents

Pipebreakage

Windload

Mechanical vibrations transmitted from pumps, compressors, turbines or other process

equipments.

Seismicevents

Fluiddisturbances

Explosionsetc.

Dynamicrestraintsarespeciallydesignedtoabsorbsuddenincreaseinloadfromthepipeandtransfer
intothestructureandtodampenanyopposingoscillationbetweenthepipeandthestructure.These
restraintsarenotintendedtocarrytheweightofpipeworkandshouldnotimpedethefunctionofthe
supports.Dynamicrestraintsarerequiredtobeverystiff,tohavehighloadcapacityandtominimize
freemovementbetweenpipeandstructure.

Themainsupportsthatmakeupthedynamicrestraintsforprocesspipingare

1.SwayBraces

2.HydraulicandMechanicalSnubbers

3.RigidStruts

4.Clamps

5.WeldingClevisetc.

InthefollowingparagraphswewilldiscussinbriefaboutSwayBraces,RigidStrutsandSnubbers.

SwayBraces:
Swaybracescanbedefinedasspringloadedunitsmountedonpipeworkwhichareusedtolimitthe
swayingorvibrationinducedbyexternalforces(vibrationforce)byapplyinganopposingforceonthe
pipe.Theyaredoubleactingvariable springunitswhichcanhandlebothtensileandcompressive
loads. It is commonly used to allow unrestrained thermal movements while tuning the system
dynamicallytoeliminatevibration.Itcouldbepreloadedinthecoldorinstalledposition,sothatafter
thermalpipemovement(growth)itreachestheneutralpositionandtheloadonthesysteminthe
operating(OPE)conditionisnegligible(almostzero).

Theconstructionisfairlysimple,theunithastwopistonplates:oneoneithersideofthehelicalcoil
compressionspringconnectedbyasinglepistonrod.

Fig.1:SchematicRepresentationofSwayBraceconstruction.

Ifatensileloadisapplied,thetoppistonplateispulleddowncausingthespringtocompress&ifa
compressiveloadisappliedthethrustnut/rodcouplingpushesthebottompistonplatetopushupwhich
causesthespringtocompress.Thereforeinbothofthesituationthespringgetscompressedbutdueto
design (see cut away section above) the unit is capable of handling both compressive & tensile
movements/forces.

Thespringisprecompressed(usuallyafullinch=25mm)providinganinitialforce(preload)that
instantaneously opposes vibration. Whenever any movement from the sway brace neutral position
occursitisopposedbyaloadequaltothepreloadplustravelfromtheneutralpositiontimesthesway
bracespringconstant.Toexplainitfurther,ifthepipingloadontheswaybraceislessthanpreload
thentherewillnotbeanylinemovement.Iftheloadisequaltopreloadthenthelinewillbeonthe
vergeofmovement,butthenalsothelinewillnotmove.Iftheloadismorethanthepreloadtheline
willdeflectcausingthespringtocompressfurther.Thedeflectionofthespring/pipeinthiscasewill
beasgiveninequation1.

Pipedeflection=(pipingloadPreload)/springrateEqn1

Sothereisnopipemovementiftheloadislessthanthepreloadandwithloadinexcessofpreloadthe
deflectionisasgiveninEqn1.

WhenswaybracewithapreloadPisinstalledinapipethereisnoforceexertedbytheswaybraceon
thepipe.Butforthepipetohaveanymovementineitherdirectionalongthelineofswaybrace
installationitwillexperienceareactiveforceequaltoPplustravelfromneutralpositiontimesthe
swaybracespringconstant.Itisdesiredtohavenoforceonthepipeduringnormaloperationofthe
pipe.Soswaybracearenormallyattachedduringnormaloperationoradjustedtothenutralpositon
duringnormaloperatingcondition.
Whenmaximumallowedtravel(usually3in./75mmineitherdirection)isreachedtheswaybrace
lockspreventingadditionalmovementandactasarigidrestraint.

ThepreloadforLISEGAswaybracescanbeadjustedasperrequirementatsite.ButforC&Porothers
theunitisshippedafteradjustingrequiredpreload.

The effect of sway brace on the piping system is to increase the K value in the
equationMx2(t)+Cx(t)+Kx(t)=F(t)

Thisinturnwillraisethenatural frequenciesofthevibratorymodes&thusnormallyreducethe
responseofthepipetodynamicloads&vibrations.

Theforcerequiredtorestrainthepipeworkcanbecalculatedasfollows:

IfthepipeworkisvibratingwithfrequencyfHzatamaximumdisplacement(halfamplitude)ofxmm
then, in simple harmonic motion, the restoring force exerted by the pipework at maximum
displacement(kgf)=42f2mx/1000g.Wheremistheequivalentmassofthepipeworkinkg.

ItislikelythataSwayBracehavingapreloadgreaterthanthisvaluewillfullyrestrainthepipeatthe
supportlocation,whileaSwayBraceforwhichthisvalueisgreaterthanthepreload,butlessthanthe
maximumloadwillhaveasignificanteffect.

Manufacturersnormallyrecommendaspecificsizeofswaybraceforapipenominaldiameter.Ifthe
exact restraining force required to control the piping vibration is known beforehand then a more
specific sway brace selection is possible. The energy necessary to control the piping system is
proportionaltothemass,amplitudeofmovementandtheexternalforcewhichiscausingthevibration.
Fromthisrelationtheexactrestrainingforcerequiredtocontrolthepipingvibrationcanbecalculated
andanappropriateswaybracesizecanbeselected.

Swaybracesneedtobeinstalledinoperatingcondition.However,itcanbeinstalledincoldcondition.
Butforthatcasewhentheplantstartsoperating,thepipemayhavethermalmovements.Thismay
cause the spring in the sway brace to compress by an amount equal to the thermal
movement/displacement.Atthispointtheswaybracewillbeexertingaforceequaltothepreload+
movementXspringconstant.TheloadneedtobereleasedbydoingNeutraladjustment.Thiscanbe
achieved byrotatingtheRodcouplingshownaboveinadirectionsuchthat thepistonplate gets
released&restsagainsttheendplate.Inthissituationtheswaybracewillnotexertanyforceonthe
pipe.Duringshutdown,asthepipecools&getsintothecoldposition,theswaybracewillexerta
forceonthepipeasthespringwillgetcompressed.Tosummarize,

Sustainedloadsonswaybrace=PreLoad+HotDeflection*SpringRate

InOPEcasethedisplacementallowsthermalexpansionandtheswayassumesneutralposition
exertingzeroornegligibleloadonthepipe.i.e,Operatingcaserestraintloadsonswaybrace=~0.0
(doesnotrestrainthermalexpansion)

MainApplication:

SwayBracesaremainlyusedtoreducepipevibrationamplitudeandatthesametimedoesnotincrease
theexpansionstressinoperatingcase.Itpreventsthepipefromvibratingatitsresonantfrequency.
Typicalexamplesof usingtheswaybracesareinthepipelinefeedingtheflarestackinarefinery.
Whengasesatveryhighpressuresarepassedinthepipelineintheflarestack,ittendstovibrate&the
swaybracewilltry&limitthevibrations. Everytimethevibratingforcehastoactasoppositetothe
swaybracepreload+thestiffnessmultipliedbydistancemovedfromneutralposition.Whentheline
movementexceedstheswaybracebecomesrigidandactasarigidguideinthatdirection.

Thespringstiffnessandpreloadisfixeddependingonpipesize.Howeverforspecialapplications
manufacturercanchangethosevaluesasperrequirement.

ClickheretovisitCaesarModellingProcedureforSwayBrace

Struts:

When we need to limit the displacement which does not effect in increase of thermal stress in
operating condition or when the disturbed displacement is at an axis normal to the thermal
displacementitispreferableandlessexpensivetousearigidstrutorstrut.Rigidstrutsareselectedto
suittheforcethattheywillresistandthespaceavailabletofitthem.Theanchorpointtothestructure
isthemostsimpletoselectsinceitisonlydependentonthesizeoftherigidstrut.Thepipeattachment
isdependantonbothpipesizeandstrutsizebutitisalsoinfluencedbytheorientationofthestrut
relativetothepipearrangement.
Thestrutisoftenmoredifficulttospecifybecauseitmayberesistingforcesinthethreeprimaryaxes,
x,yandz.Itisthereforenecessarytousesomesimpletrigonometrytoresolvethegivenforcesinto
axialforceactingonthestrutandtocalculatetheactuallengthofthestrutbetweenthefixingpointand
thepipeattachment.Becausethestrutisheldbetweentwopinnedconnectionsitsabilitytoresist
compressiveforceisgreatertheshorterthestrutis.Alongstrutwillhavealowersafeworkingloadin
compressionthanashortstrut.Howeveritslengthdoesnotaffectthetensileloadcapacityofthestrut.

The strut is therefore selected by considering the direction and magnitude of the axial force and if
compressive forces are acting, the length between the fixing pins of the connections. After the the strut
size is selected, the welding clevis will automatically specified to suit the strut size. The pipe
attachment is selected now by considering the pipe size, the strut size and the connection requirements
between the strut and the clamp. It is essential that the strut can attach to the clamp without obstruction
and any thermal movements are able to occur without the strut interfering on the clamp. Therefore it is
very important to consider the transition of the assembly during all expected displacements.

MainApplication:

RigidStrutsareusedinTurbineandCompressorconnectedlinesnearthenozzleconnectionstotake
theadvantageofverylessfriction.Otherwisestrutscanbeusedasasubstituteforguidesupports
wherestructureisnotavailableforusingstandardguides.

ClickheretocheckthemodellingprocedureofrigidStrutsinCaesarII

Snubbers:

Theuseofsnubbers(Alsocalledshockabsorber)ispreferredinthermallyoperatingpipingsystems.In
adynamicevent,snubbersinstantaneouslyform apractically rigidrestraint between theprotected
component and the structure. Resulting dynamic energy can at once be absorbed and harmlessly
transferredwhiletheoperational displacementsduetothermalexpansionandcontractionmustnot
encounter any noticeable resistance. Through the special function of the shock absorbers, thermal
displacements during normal operation remain unhindered (offers very little resistance to pipe
movement).Whenhoweverasuddenimpactloadactsuponsnubberinternalbrakingdeviceengage,
thuscontrollingthemovement ofpipe.Snubberissaidtobelockupandinthisconditionthe
snubberactsasarigidrestraint.Whentheloadhasdissipated,thesnubberunlocksandagainallows
gradual movementofthepipe.Dependingoninternal mechanismofworkingsnubbersareoftwo
types:

1.HydraulicSnubbersand

2.MechanicalSnubbers

1.HydraulicSnubbers:

Similartoanautomobileshockarrestorthehydraulicsnubberisbuiltaroundacylindercontaining
hydraulicfluidwithapiston(SeeFig.2)thatdisplacesthefluidfromoneendofthecylindertothe
other.

Displacementoffluidresultsfromthemovementofthepipecausingthepistontodisplacewithinthe
cylinderresultinginhighpressureinoneendofthecylinderandarelativelylowpressureintheother.

Thevelocityofthepistonwilldictatetheactualdifferenceinpressure.

Thefluidpassesthroughaspringloadedvalve,thespringbeingusedtoholdthevalveopen.Ifthe
differentialpressureacrossthevalveexceedstheeffectivepressureexertedbythespring,thevalvewill
close. This causes the snubber to become almost rigid and further movement or displacement is
substantiallyprevented.

Thehydraulicsnubberisgenerallyusedwhentheaxisofrestraintisinthedirectionofexpansion/
contractionofthepipe.Thesnubberisthereforerequiredtoextend/retractwiththenormaloperation
ofthepipework.Thesnubberhaslowresistancetodisplacement/movementatverylowvelocities.
Theresistancetonormalthermalmovements(pipevelocitylessthan1mm/Secandwithamplitudeof
vibrationlessthan3mm)islessthan2%oftheratedloadofthesnubber.

Fig.2:HydraulicSnubbers.

1.MechanicalSnubbers:

Whilst having the same application as the hydraulic snubber, retardation of the pipe is due to
centrifugalbrakingwithinthesnubber.Asplitflywheelisrotatedathighvelocitywhichcausesthe
steel balls tobe forced radially outwards. The flywheel isforced apart bythe steel ballscausing
braking plates to come together thus retarding the axial movement/displacement of the snubber.
Rotationoftheflywheelisgeneratedbythelineardisplacementofthemainrodactingonaballscrew
orsimilardevice.

Mechanicalsnubbers(SeeFig.3)areusedincasesofapplicationswherehumanaccessisrestricted,
forinstanceduetohighradiationatmosphereinthenuclearplantorduetohighelevationpointwhere
noscaffoldisavailable&maintenanceworkisnoteasytodo.Nomaintenanceserviceisrequiredfor
mechanicalsnubbers&aredesignedtogeneratetherequiredresistanceforceinstantlyonreaching
thresholdacceleration,torestrainadisplacementofpipingcausedbyanearthquakeorotherdynamic
events & resume its free movement as soon as the dynamic displacement is suppressed while
developing very little (a negligible level of) frictional resistance force during the slow thermal
displacementmodeofpiping.

SelectionofSnubbers:

Thesnubberisinfluencedbythesamefactorsthattherigidstrutis,themagnitudeanddirectionof
axialforce,butitisalsonecessarytoconsiderthethermaldisplacementthesnubberhavetoundergo.

Again it is necessary to use trigonometry for calculating the force and the length of the snubber
alongwiththeactualdisplacementappliedtothesnubber.Displacementsintheprimaryaxescannotbe
combinedsimplytodeterminethesnubbermovement/displacement;itisnecessarytocalculatethe
overalllengthofthesnubberinthevariousinstalledandoperatingconditionsinordertodeterminethe
neededstroke.

Aftercalculatingtheactualstrokeitisgoodengineeringpracticetotakeamarginofexcesstravelat
each end of the design travel. So, Always select a snubber that is capable of allowing greater
displacementthanistheoreticallyrequired.

Orientationofthesnubberisalsoimportantforbothhydraulicandmechanicaltypes.Accesstoeither
lubricationpointsorinspectionpointsisnormallyrequiredandmustbeconsideredduringthedesign
andinstallationoftherestraint.Itmayalsoberequiredtoallowinsitutestingofthesnubberfor
validatingitsfunctionalityandsoaccessmaybeapermanentrequirement.

 Fig.3:MechanicalSnubbers.

ForselectingproperSnubber,determinetheminimumrequiredstrokebytakingtheanticipateddesign
movementandaddinganallowanceforexcesstravel.Thisallowanceshouldnormallybeatleast20%
oftheanticipateddesignmovement.Thenselectasnubberwherethecylinderstrokeisgreaterthanor
equaltotheminimumrequiredstrokeandtheappliedloadingsintensionandcompressionarelessthan
theallowablemaximumloadingsintensionandcompressionforthesizeandlengthofsnubberas
showninthecatalogue.Forintermediatelengths,allowablecompressiveloadingsmaybedetermined
by interpolation. The length of the snubber must be such that the maximum angulations are not
exceeded.

Tocalculatetherequiredclosedcentresforthesnubber,usethefollowingformulae:

ClosedCentres=InstalledCentresX

WhereX=(StrokeDesignMovementinExtension)/2or

X=(Stroke+DesignMovementinCompression)/2

This method will result in the spare travel being distributed evenly on either side of the design
movement.

MainApplication:

SnubbersarenormallyusedforreducingthedamagingeffectsofEarthquakeevents.

ClickheretocheckthemodellingofsnubberinCaesarII

Requestyoutoprovideyourinputincommentssection.