Hi, is there some documents which explains the differences among these various kind of analysis?
I know their meanings, but I would like to have some good document or explanation of how they work, of course I already read Caesar's Manuals. Maybe they already explain what I am asking but they aren't in concentrated form.
Many thanks

Ferex,

I'm by no means an expert, as I've only been using this software for a couple months now. I'm assuming you're using the standard load cases for SUS, OPE, and EXP, which are shown when you press the "static load cases" button. Doing this reveals the following:

SUS = W+P1+H - This is the displacement of your piping at your "installation" temperature. The displacement is caused by the weight of your pipe (W) + the displacement due to the pressure within the pipe (P1) + the displacements affected by the use of hangars (H)

OPE = W+D1+T1+P1+H - This is the displacement of your piping during normal "operating" conditions. In addition to the displacements created in the (SUS) case, the displacements caused by the process fluid temperature (T1) + the displacements specified at any equip. connection or location where a known displacement occurs (D1).

EXP = OPE - SUS = (W+D1+T1+P1+H) - (W+P1+H) = D1+T1 - This last load case is the displacements in your piping caused solely by the process temperatures as well as whatever displacements you've specified by hand. You could view this as being the displacements caused by thermal growth.

I'm probably missing a few key ideas, but this is my understanding. Like I said, I don't know everything about this program, but I hope this helps a bit.