If you were looking to hire an engineer who would be tasked with pipe stress analysis, what sort of questions would you ask in order to qualify their knowledge of CAESAR II and their skills in modeling, analysis and redesign?

We are considering the implementation of a CAESAR II Certification exam. Do not confuse this certification with the certificate we issue to all who attend our current CAESAR II training. That certificate indicates only that the recipient attended our statics or dynamics class and does not signify any level of knowledge or skill in using our program. It is our hope that this CAESAR II certification will serve both piping engineers and managers in qualifying those skills and knowledge.

As I see it, there are several topics in this test:

1. Basis for calculation (Establish design criteria)
. a. F=KX
. b. Modes of piping failure
. c. Code-defined stresses and their limits
. d. Piping codes
. e. Selecting spring supports
2. CAESAR II navigation (“How do I…”)
. a. Create a new model
. b. Edit an existing model
. c. Set global defaults (Configuration)
. d. Manipulate plots
. e. Utilize toolbars
. f. Define/edit load cases
. g. Review results
. h. Create reports
3. Modeling (static)
. a. Generate an appropriate model from a stress isometric
. b. Linear v nonlinear boundary conditions (including friction)
. c. Restraint types
. d. Bend rule (required element sequence)
. e. System origin
. f. Correcting modeling errors
. g. Adjust piping code criteria
. h. Duplicating, manipulating data
4. Output review
. a. Verify input
. b. Review hanger selection
. c. Produce structural results (loads on restraints, displacements)
. d. Produce stress results
. e. Create a complete stress report
5. Problem diagnosis and correction (design skill)
. a. Recognize & correct poor modeling
. b. Identify poor design/layout (stress, load, position)
. c. Correct poor design – both collapse and fatigue
. d. Reduce equipment loads
6. CAESAR II dynamic analysis
. a. Proper node spacing
. b. Modal analysis
. c. Verifying/Improving the dynamic model
. d. Types of CAESAR II dynamic analysis
7. Practical application / Special topics
. a. For a given drawing, create and document a complete analysis
. b. For a given overstressed model, provide a fix
. c. FRP/GRP
. d. Buried pipe
. e. Cumulative damage

REQUEST NUMBER 1: What’s missing here? I would appreciate your criticism and additions to this list of exam topics.

Now we at COADE can certainly generate many, many questions for such a test. But you, our program users have a differing and perhaps more important view of our software. I am looking for your input regarding this exam in order to make it a useful indicator of competency.

REQUEST NUMBER 2: Do you have any specific questions in mind for this hypothetical new hire with CAESAR II experience?

If you want your point of view included in this exam, please response to these requests by entering a reply. Should the volume become excessive (and I hope it does), I will move this thread to its own forum.

Thank you.