If the pipe is vertical, it grows and contracts such that in the hot condition, the upper supports lift off. In the cold condition the lower supports lift off.

The only way you can distribute the load across the temperatures is if the supports are capable of moving with the pipe. For that, you would need to model the flexibility of the supports, either with structural steel within CAESAR, or by working closely with your structural engineering group.

If the vertical pipe is fairly self-supporting - i.e. it won't fail under its own weight, you can get around this with one massive support, generally at the top.

If it won't support its own weight, you generally have to provide hard supports along the length of the pipe, but then ensure the piping is flexible enough to not exceed code stresses.


Edited by Michael_Fletcher (04/10/16 01:54 PM)
Edit Reason: coherence