I think I have discovered a problem with the FEA interface with NozzlePro. The global loads input for WRC107 should not be the same ones used in FEA analysis. According to Tony Paulin at PRG, NozzlePro applies the loads at the end of the nozzle. Therefore, in order to equal the forces and moments at the shell/nozzle interface the moments to be applied for FEA need to be reduced by the appropriate shear force * nozzle length. I think codecalc should preform this calculation prior to dumping the input to NozzlePro for analysis.

Yes that is a good point. WRC expects the loads at the vessel-nozzle junction and the NozzlePro is expects the loads at the nozzle end.

But, if we transform the loads from junction end to the Nozzle end (by multiplying the shear loads * Nozzle length), then the stiffness of the nozzle is not taken into account (you are assuming the nozzle is rigid). Then the computed loads at the Nozzle end will be different than the actual loads at the nozzle end.

The better approach will be to build a "proper' piping model for computing the piping loads acting on the nozzle. If a WRC analysis is to be performed then the piping model should include the nozzle and if an FEA is to be performed then model should stop at the nozzle. We will highlight this aspect in the documentation and in the user interface.

Thanks,
Mandeep