Hi Mariog,

Sorry to cause a confusion. Maybe "overcome" is not the right word in my statement. Anyway I have got this idea from one of the webinar by Mr. Paulin & Mr. Hinnant from Paulin Research Group (entitled "External Loads on Nozzles and Pipe Intersections"). Refer to the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTQMgGeUgwQ

In this webinar, the Piping Code and Pressure Vessel Code approach was compared. At the end of the webinar it introduces the elastic plastic analysis using the operating combined load (Thermal, Weight, Pressure) multiplied by a factor and see if the solution will converged (structure will still be in equilibrium in other words).

Please correct me in case I misinterpreted the webinar. Anyway, EP analysis is not a straightforward analysis than elastic analysis and maybe it's better to use this as a last resort (say fitness for service evaluation?).

Any other opinion is highly appreciated.

Cheers!!!