Hello,

I thought some of y'all would like to know about this paper. It brings you up to speed with the new B31.3 Appendix "P" rules for structural analysis. I would point out that these are "alternate rules" and the "tried and true" methods of B31.3, Chapter II (Design), Part 5, Paragraph 319, are STILL VALID.

New Piping Flexibility Rules in ASME B31.3, Appendix P
Charles Becht IV
Becht Engineering Company, Inc.

David W. Diehl
COADE, Inc.

Abstract:
Alternative rules for performing flexibility analysis were added, as Appendix P, in ASME B31.3, the Process Piping Code, 2004 edition. These rules are considered to be more comprehensive; they were designed around computer flexibility analysis. To compute stress range, the difference in stress states, considering all loads, is computed. This paper describes the new rules, their intent, and provides several example piping stress analyses, comparing the results of an analysis using the Appendix P rules with that using the rules in the base Code.

http://store.asme.org/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=Conference+Papers&category%5Fname=Design+and+Analysis+of+Piping+and+Piping+Components%5FPVP2005TCK%2D3&Page=1

Regards, John.