The valve/flange database is simply a look-up table to obtain weights and lengths for "common" valves and flanges. By "common" I mean "gate", "globe", "check", and "ball" valves, with and without weldneck flanges. A valve or a flange+valve+flange system is simply a rigid element that transfers forces and moments from one end to the other. The analysis simply needs the weight and length - we don't care about anything else.

No there is no way to do sizing caluclations in CAESAR II. CAESAR II performs a flexibility analysis of the piping system. The program takes your input and sets up a system of equations [K]{x}={f}, where [K] and {f} are derived from your input. The matrix equation is solved for {x}, the displacement vector. From the displacemens and rotations of the node points, the elemental forces and moments are determined. From these values, the code equations are applied to determine the code stresses, which are compared agains the code allowables.

There are a multitude of other factors which must be determined before a flexibility analysis can be initiated, and there are another multitude of factos which must be addressed after the flexibility analysis is completed. Pipe stress programs (CAESAR II included) address the flexibility analysis only.

(CAESAR II does provide auxiliary modules used for equipment and vessesl nozzle analysis, which depend on the output from the flexibility analysis.)