A Simple and Effective Pipe Elbow Element—Linear Analysis

The formulation of a new, simple, and effective displacement-based pipe bend element is presented. The displacement assumptions are axial, torsional, and bending displacements that vary cubically along the axis of the elbow with plane sections remaining plane, and a generalization of the von Karman pipe radial displacement patterns to include the ovalization effects. The amount of ovalization varies cubically along the elbow with full compatibility between elbows. The pipe bend element has been implemented, and the results of various sample analyses are presented, which illustrate the effectiveness of the element.