This question does not have too much technical value but just to get a feel of how people work in different consultancies I’m putting forth:

Invariably all organizations have some kind of allowable load table for general static equipments like pressure vessels and heat exchangers. Say, analysis results for a particular nozzle shows the nozzle loads are above the allowed limit by 5% (or above limit from 1 % to 10% ) for different nozzles…..(These loads are after inputting WRC 297 stiffness values and after the stress analyst gets a feel that the system is well supported and stable from his experience). What normally stress engineers do under these circumstances?

1.Modify supports / routing to bring within allowable imit.
2.Send to vessel group (vendor) for detailed FE analysis.
3.Document the same values with a note saying within +10% of allowable limit.
4.Any other method?

Personally I prefer method 3 but organizational procedures force me to spend a lot of time on methods 1 and 2. Forum members kindly opine….

1. It always makes good sense to reduce nozzle loads. My first step is to modify supports and pipe routing (within reason) to reduce the nozzle loads.

2. If I still can't get within the allowables, then I'll run NozzzlePro and evaluate the nozzle stresses. If it passes by a comfortable margin, then I document it with my calcs. If it's marginal, then I'll forward the loads on to the responsible equipment group for them to make the decision. Their response becomes part of my calculation documentation.

3. With the computer age, many of our clients are asking for Nozzle Loads Compliance Reports. It's too easy now days to do the calculations required showing no over stress.

4. When evaluating nozzle loading, be sure to consider flange moments also to insure non-leakage.

Cover
Your
Ar$e

Or else become shakespere and put pen and paper to good use writing exceptions.

Work to something agreed in writing between all.
Els modify system.

Tim