What hope do we have if even the good guys can't agree?
Maybe the answer is irrelevent, and we are asking the wrong questions.

For myself, i am not the best at understanding the deepest technical and accademic formulee and parts that form the etherial world of pipe stress analysis,
I am good (i think) at the more practical side of the stress analysis.

I just can't reason for myself, why something which is so important as pipe stress analysis is left to the vagaries of personal opinion.
to me, it is either:
a)Correct and therefore safe
b)Incorrect and therefore unsafe

(a+b)/2 is a grey zone and chance is not my first option.

Example.

On recent post, D.Diehl commented that to push or pull a pipe with a bellows in it is irrelevent.
But if a system is 99.9% stressed before you pull it ,then bingo overstress.

Whats my point here?
I should be able to by analysis, ensure that my system is safe and meets a set of clear requirements. which in turn, gives the client confidence in his design

By all means, if costs are high, and you have the skill then push into the greyzone
I shouldn't have to wait till August to read a paper which is in dispute by someone who i would judge to be hugely more capable than myself.


(Steps of soapbox)