PIPING CHEMICAL PHARMA/ FOOD/

BIOTECH BEVERAGE
OIL/
GAS
WATER/
WASTEWATER
POWER

Designing Efficient Piping Systems

Seismic analysis of above ground piping in a process plant
Source: depositphotos.com / maroti

A typical process plant has a large network of pipes and equipment

Engineering design is a very stringent process and it involves various reach their strength, a sudden movement
takes place causing release of shock waves.
considerations including natural calamities, especially earthquakes. The
These waves are mainly classified as
use of this engineering design even in process plant piping is no exception. ‘Body waves’ and ‘Surface waves’. Body
waves comprise primary waves (P-waves)
This article that gives insight into analyzing the seismic effects on the and secondary waves (S-waves) whereas
surface waves comprise ‘Love waves’ and
design of pipes. Using an assortment of analysis techniques, the results are
‘Rayleigh waves’. P-waves produce tension
presented herein. or compression strain along the direction of
energy transmission whereas S-waves
oscillate at right angle to it (refer Figure 1).
Rocks, being elastic in nature, store Love waves are similar to S-waves but
elastic strain energy during the without a vertical component. A combined
gigantic tectonic plate action that occurs in effect of the S-wave and Love wave cause
Gaurav Bhende
the earth. However, the material content in maximum damage to a structure due to
Member of ASME and IEI
Deputy Chief Engineer rocks is small. Hence, when the rocks along their racking motion in both the vertical and
Mott MacDonald a weak region on the surface of the earth horizontal directions.

34 PROCESS INDIA  Volume 1 · Issue 3 · Dec 2013

TABLE 1: RESPONSE SPECTRUM WITH

Source: Mott MacDonald Mumbai

5 PER CENT DAMPING: P-Waves Push and Pull
SPECTRAL
TIME PERIOD,
ACCELERATION IN ‘G’S
SECONDS
(5 PER CENT DAMPED)
0.01 0.5074

0.05 0.5845

0.075 0.7032
Extension Compression
0.1 0.8287

0.15 1.0213
S-Waves Up and down

0.2 1.1060

0.3 1.1886

0.5 1.1006

1 0.8071
Side to side Direction of
2 0.4506
Energy Transmission
4 0.1870

10 0.0683 Figure 1: Shock waves occurring on the Earth’s surface

Effect of earthquake on pipes natural frequency of the support then it can ● Response spectrum method (RSM)
In a typical process plant, a pipe either produce higher amplitude movements and ● Time history analysis method
rests on a steel structure or on a concrete even cause resonance. Quasi-static or static equivalent
support. The pipe can be fixed to the method (SEM)
structure either through supports like Methods of seismic analysis SEM, which has been followed by most of
U-bolts or can slide freely. However, for this The earthquake characteristics are the codes, assumes that the mass
seismic analysis, an assumption that no described by ground acceleration, the time distribution throughout the height of the
relative movement occurs between the pipe of shaking and its response spectrum. The structure is uniform, with the centroid of
and the support has been made. ‘design earthquake’ is generally defined by mass and rigidity coinciding at each level. In
Consider a pipe attached to a support. either of the magnitude of the largest most of the cases, this assumption holds
Under the action of seismic event on the earthquake that probably could occur or the well except for the structures of highly
system (pipe + structure), the pipe magnitude corresponding to large return irregular shapes. In this method, a
experiences an excitation force due to period e.g. 500 years, 1000 years, etc. horizontal force in proportion to the ratio of
seismic acceleration which is based on the seismic acceleration to gravitational
properties of the support structure. Each The return period can be calculated acceleration is applied, as base shear, to get
structure has its own response to seismic as follows: horizontal forces acting on the system.
excitation based on material, mass, T = -t / ln (1 - p) Response spectrum method
geometry, stiffness etc. Accordingly, the Where, It is a plot of maximum steady state
response spectrum needs to be modified p is the probability of exceedance in response (displacement, velocity or
before applying to any system. t years, generally 10 per cent in 50 years acceleration) of a series of oscillators with
As per Newton’s first law, the inertia of and T is the return period, in years. different natural frequencies to a given
the pipe resists its movement due to Example 1: t = 100 years, p = 10, then shock. In this analysis the maximum
seismic acceleration and results into a force, T = -100 / ln (1 - 0.1). response developed by a system to the
called ‘inertia force’, which acts against the Therefore, T = 949 years ~ 1000 years transient load is analyzed. Response
direction of earth motion. This force changes spectrum can be modified based on
magnitude as well as direction based on Earthquake analyses damping. The acceleration is in inverse
seismic motion creating unbalanced forces The effect of an earthquake on a pipe can proportion to the damping. RSM is the
and vibrations in the pipe. If frequency of be analyzed by the following methods: most common method in dynamic analysis
pipe reaches in the close vicinity of the ● Quasi-static or static equivalent method of earthquake.

PROCESS India  Volume 1 · Issue 3 · Dec 2013 35

PIPING

Time history analysis

Source: Mott MacDonald Mumbai

It provides instrumental measurement of
duration, frequencies or accelerations and
can be used to understand linear or
nonlinear response of a structure for a
specific excitation. This method is generally
not used to analyze seismic effect as each
earthquake is different and the source could
be away from the structure under design.
However, this method can be used for
forensic analysis of a seismic event.

Static equivalent method as per

ASCE 7 Figure 2: Calculation of stress due to seismic load on the pipe

A few mathematical calculations need to

be performed in order to obtain seismic
response co-efficient Cs. These co-efficient Step 9: With SDS and SD1 values response (Fseismic) 20 = 0.37 * 627 = 232 lb acting in
Cs will be used to generate seismic load spectrum can be built as follows: the lateral direction.
acting on the system. All calculations and ● Period Sa less than T0, straight line Sa The support and foundation shall be
assumptions are done in accordance to the ● Flat Sa between Sa between T0 and Ts. designed for this obtained value.
book of standards issued by the American ● Sa curve about Ts. The stress due to seismic load on the pipe can
Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7. Sa = SDS [0.4+0.6 T / T0] …… for period < T0 be calculated using bending equation σ = M/Z.
The stepwise solution to obtain the static Sa = SDS …………………… for T0 <=T<=Ts (σb)midspan =PL/4Z =232 * 20/4 * 16.7 = 70 PSI.
seismic co-efficient’s: Sa = SD1 / T ………………… for T> Ts
Step 1: Identify site class based on type of soil Step 10: Calculate seismic response co- Conclusion
from ASCE 7 (Table 20.3-1). Assuming soil efficient Cs as Cs = SDS / (R/I). Designing a piping system for seismic event
type as dense soil let soil class be ‘C’. Where, R is the response modification is largely dependent upon data availability
Step 2: Identify short period acceleration, co-efficient and can be obtained as and its proper interpretation. Even though
i.e., the acceleration corresponding to minimum value (conservative approach) static analysis is the most popular and proven
0.2s and spectral response acceleration from the ASCE 7 (Table 12.2-1 or Table method in pipe stress analysis, the response
corresponding to 1s from the response 13.6-1). The typical value for structural spectrum analysis provides additional and
spectrum. support, R = 3. (Note: More accurate values useful information like modes of vibrations
(Ss)0.2s = 1.1060 and S1 = 0.8071. can be selected on the basis of structural and frequencies. ●
Step 3: Get short period site coefficient from properties). I is the occupancy importance
ASCE 7, (Table 11.4-1). factor which can be obtained from ASCE 7 
Please refer to the ASCE 7 for all tables and annexures
In this case, for (Ss)0.2s =1.1060 and Fa=1 for (Table 11.5-1). given herein

class C. I will vary from 1 to 1.5. Selecting I = 1.5,

Step 4: Calculate spectral response Cs can be calculated as Cs = 0.74 / (3/ 1.5).
acceleration at a short period adjusted to Therefore, Cs = 0.37.
site class as:
SMS = Fa*Ss = 1*1.1060 = 1.106. Example for designing a pipe
Step 5: Get long period site coefficient from Consider a straight pipe subjected to
ASCE 7, (Table 11.4-2) and in this case, for spectral acceleration as per Table 1. The
Share Your Knowledge
S1 = 0.8071 and Fv = 1.3 for class C. pipe data given is as follows. The outer  Have you just completed an
Step 6: Calculate spectral response accelera- diameter of the pipe is 8.625 inches, its
innovative project?
tion at period of 1s adjusted to site class as thickness is 0.322 inches, with a corrosion
SMS = Fv*S1 = 1.3*0.807 = 1.0491. allowance of 0.125 inches, and the material  Do you offer unique process
Step 7: Calculate spectral response used is A106 B.
solution?
acceleration parameter at short period of The weight of the pipe is 28.5lb/ft.
0.2s defined as: Simple beam calculation provides the  Would you like to share that
SDS = 2/3* SMS = 2/3*1.106= 0.74 vertical dead weight on support number 20 with the process community?
Step 8: Calculate spectral response = 228 lb (refer Figure 2).
acceleration parameter at period of 1s  Just send the report to:
defined as: The seismic force acting at each support soumi.mitra@vogel.de
SD1 = 2/3*SM1 = 2/3*1.0491= 0.7 location can be calculated as:

36 PROCESS INDIA  Volume 1 · Issue 3 · Dec 2013