Dear all friends,

Sometimes our knowledge and understanding are limited to specific software and some specific codes. Why don't you use other software to handle some specific calculations without more headache? Or you may be in doubt at all.
Many critical lines must be evaluated by both CAESAR II & FE/Pipe, specially for intersections, trunnions, stancions, shoe welded to large pipe, etc. For accurate and reliable solution for intersections you need to consider both SIF & flexibility in all directions. In FE/Pipe use Unreinforced Fabricated Tee template and set No Hole in header in order to model trunnion and calculate SIF & Flex. Attached to this post, there's an useful document that I've found in PAULIN website. I hope it helps.

Regards,
Farhad Salehi