Fluid Power

MOO-ZUNG LEE
West Hills, Calif.

A primer on

PIPE SUPPORTS
Controlling the structural
behavior of piping is
cr itical to reliability,
safety, and long life.

TYPES OF HANGERS
Regular nut
Locknut

Spring

Rigid rod

Spring

can
iping systems are often not
can and
rocker
self-supporting because of
mechanism
Pipe
clamp
routing, length, and weight
f a c t o r s . We i g h t l o a d s
Pipe
include the weights of pipes, contents,
Rigid
hanger
Variable support
Constant support
insulation, valves, fittings, and possibly
the supports. Gas, air, and steam lines that
require hydraulic tests must also consider
Hangers carry weight from above a pipe with the support assemblies in tension.
the added water weight. Restraining pipe
movements from thermal expansion imposes loads on the vibration and differential anchor-movement loads.
pipe. Pressure-wave propagation from water hammer generEngineers need to predict and control the structural behavates thrust loads on pipe sections. (See Taming water ham- ior of piping under various loads for a fluid system to opermer, http://machinedesign.com/news/taming-water-hammer.) ate reliably and safely. Time-tested industrial experience on
Wind can sway outdoor pipes. And earthquakes induce both pipe-support design can be found in Design of Piping Systems

VARIABLE-SUPPORT MECHANISM

SPRING FORCES

To structure

Variable supports

Spring bottomed out

Load
Wmax

rely on preloaded
compression coil

Load
range

springs. They are

used where rigid

Wmin

Spring can

hangers have dif-

ficulty uniformly distributing the load.

yo
To pipe

40

Preload deflection

Deflection

Deflection range

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MACHINE DESIGN

Fluid Power

by the M. W. Kellogg Co., Houston, and ASME Codes, as

listed in the accompanying references. Here are some of the
fundamentals.

CONSTANT SUPPORT MECHANISM

To structure
Integral rocking arms

PIPE SUPPORTS

Pipe supports in the broadest sense encompass the entire

range of structural elements and mechanical devices that
transmit loads from pipes to adjacent structures or the ground.
They carry the weight, limit pipe movements, and manage
both the stresses in the pipes and loads on equipment. A wide
range of options is available to design engineers.
Hangers carry weight from above a pipe with the support
assemblies in tension. A hanger suspends the weight of about
half of the adjacent pipe spans, the riser within those spans,
and the hanger assembly itself. Hangers must be adjustable
while supporting the weight. Adjustment nuts and turnbuckles
should have full lengths of thread engagement with locking
devices. ANSI coarse threads with Class 2 allowance/tolerance
are recommended. Use the root area of the external thread for
stress calculations. Hangers need adequate length so that any
motion does not impose large horizontal restraining forces on
the pipe.
Rigid hangers (or hanger rods) are simple devices that
consist of a rod, clamp, and attachment nuts. Theyre suitable
for pipes with limited vertical thermal movements, such as
cooling water pipes.
Variable supports (or variable-load spring hangers) are
equipped with factory-preloaded compression coil springs.
Preloaded compression springs are compact and fail-safe
while tension springs are not.
Variable support is used where rigid hangers have difficulty uniformly distributing the load. Variable support gives
or takes some load from its cold-set level while following
thermal-induced vertical movements of the pipe. That means
a portion of the load transfers to or from adjacent supports
and equipment. Load variation is defined as:
Variability factor = (operating load nonoperating load)/
operating load = ky/Wmax.
ASME Codes recommend the variability factor to be 25%.
Use support load and travel as the parameters for sizing a variable support. Commercially available spring hangers indicate
spring compression at the approximate hot and cold positions
of the piping. Springs are sized to avoid bottoming out under
maximum loads. Use travel stops for hydraulic test, inspection, and maintenance of spring hangers.
Constant supports (or constant-load spring hangers)
maintain an approximately constant support force as a pipe
moves vertically. Industry practice is to keep load deviation
within 6% throughout the travel range. ASME defines deviation from load-test readings as:
Deviation = (maximum reading moving down minimum

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To pipe

Constant supports keep load deviation within a few percent throughout the travel range.

reading moving up)/ (maximum reading moving down +

minimum reading moving up).
The accompanying graphic (from Design of Piping Systems
by Kellogg) illustrates how a constant-support mechanism
works. At a moment equilibrium of the rocker mechanism,
W(Rcos) = P(rcos).
If a pipe moves down under hot conditions, the rocker
rotates counterclockwise. The shorter arm moves with a small
change in moment arm, rcos, to increase spring load, P. The
long arm moves with a large change in moment arm, Rcos,
to afford a small change in W required to maintain equilibrium. The moment equilibriums at cold and hot conditions
lead to the deviation expression:
r cos c
r cos h
Wc =
Pc cold condition, Wh =
Ph hot condition
Rcos c
Rcos h
Deviation =

2
Wh Wc
= 1
Wh /Wc +1
Wh +Wc

Wh cos h cos c Ph cos h cos c Ph

=
=
Wc cos h cos c Pc cos c cos h Pc

By making the short arm nearly perpendicular to the spring

rod, cosh/cosc 1. The sharp angle between the long arm

TYPICAL STRUT

Pin or ball joints

Struts are designed to handles tension and compression loads.

41

Fluid Power

and linkage to the pipe gives

OFFSETTING AND LOOP DESIGNS
cosc/cosh < 1 to partially offset
High temperature
Ph/Pc>1. As a result, by appropriate
choice of variables, Wh/Wc 1 or
Room temperature
deviation 0 is realizable.
Constant support is most suitable
for sensitive locations that require
uniform supporting force, or the
setup cannot tolerate transferring
Routing pipe with offsets or loops allows room for thermal expansion.
large portions of load to adjacent
supports or equipment over the operating temperature range valves secured to foundations, concrete walls, and floors.
of pipes.
Anchors can control movements of large systems or isolate
Resting supports, such as concrete saddles and welded influences from one zone to another.
stools, carry weight from below the pipe with the assembly mainly in compression. Supports may be fixed or slide THERMAL LOADS
on bases. Bolted down bases, U-bolts, or other hold-down
Thermal loads on anchors arise when designs restrict pipe
devices provide a means for preloading. Resting a pipe directly expansion/contraction. There are three common ways to mition a support without preload could reduce service life, due to gate the problem:
impingement or rubbing under sustained vibrations.
Offsetting and loops allow room for expansion and, thus,
reduce thermal load on anchors as shown in the accompaRESTRAINTS
nying illustration.
Restraints resist movements to control pipe position. Pipes
Elastic support makes an anchor slightly flexible. It reduces
far from supporting structures typically use tie rods or struts. thermal load as follows:
Tie rods only handle tension loads. Struts withstand tension
A E
F = m (TL ) = ke, rigid support F ' = k ( e ) = ks , elastic support
and compression, but must not buckle.
L
Stops restrain translation in one or both directions along
kks
F'
k
one or more axes. Guides prevent pipe rotation about one or
F ' =
e
= s <1
F ks + k
k + ks
more axes. Stops and guides are for pipes close to supporting
structures. High stress in pipe due to large moments is usually Difficult connection-load situations are often resolved using
accompanied by large displacements one or two sections away. the stiffness vector of the equipment connection in the analyPinning down those sections using stops or guides usually sis model rather than assuming it is rigid. This helps ensure a
reduces pipe stresses.
support is not overdesigned because greater rigidity increases
Anchors constrain translation and rotation of pipes in all support reactions.
axes. Typical anchors include equipment connections, heavy
Expansion joints absorb thermal expansion or contraction
NOMENCLATURE

SUPPORT COMPLIANCE REDUCES THERMAL LOAD

L
F
Elastic sup-

k = AmE/L axial
stiffness of pipe

ports reduce
thermal loads

Free thermal
expansion

by making the
anchors slight-

Thermal
expansion
suppressed

ly flexible.

Support
deformation
F

42

A = Flow area of pipe, in.2

Am = Metal area of pipe or bar, in.2
E = Modulus of elasticity, psi
e = Free thermal expansion or elongation, in.
F = Force on support, lbf
gc = 32.2 fps2/(lb/lbf)
L = Length of span, in.
k, ks = Spring rate, general, support, lbf/in.
m = Mass flow rate = w/gc
P = Load on spring, lbf
p = Internal pressure, psi
T = Change in temperature, F
V = Flow velocity, fps
W = Weight load on hanger, lbf
w = Flow rate, lb/sec
= Coefficient of thermal expansion, in./in./F
= Short arm angle, deg
= Long arm angle, deg
= Support deformation, in.

07.18.13

MACHINE DESIGN

Fluid Power

to lessen loads on anchors or restraints.

SLIP-TYPE EXPANSION JOINT
But restraints on both sides of an expansion joint must bear the fluid force from
Flange bolts
the pipe; and friction forces in slip type
or deflection forces in corrugated expanPipe 2
Pipe 1 slides in pipe 2
sion joints.
Fluid force consists of pressure and
F = pA + mV
F = pA + mV
momentum components. Pressure is
Pressure + momentum
Packing
greatest during hydraulic testing, typically 1.3 times the design pressure. And
Flange bolts
momentum forces cannot be ignored in
high-flow-velocity lines. Most support
failures near expansion joints are due to
neglecting the fluid force, which tends to Expansion joints absorb thermal expansion and contraction, but they must handle fluid and
separate an expansion joint much like a friction forces.
hydraulic jack.
For large pipes like a penstock, offsetting or loops are nut/screws, and brake mechanisms. The tubes connected
impractical. Expansion joints must be used even for envi- to opposite ends of the snubber support the nut and screw,
ronmental temperature variations and short pipes between respectively. The ball nut-screw pair converts linear relative
anchors when expansion is restricted. More information on acceleration between the two ends of the snubber to rotaexpansion joints is available from manufacturers like U.S. Bel- tional acceleration of the screw shaft. The torque-transfer
lows Inc., Houston.
element on the shaft rotates the inertia mass through a helical
Differential anchor movement arises because anchors on torsion-spring coupling. When acceleration reaches a threshdifferent foundations move at different amplitudes (and they old, the inertia reaction torque tightens the spring, shrinks its
never move in synch during earthquakes). Differential thermal diameter, and presses on a stationary mandrel to brake. The
movements of vessels or main pipes are similar, although they torque transfer mechanism lets the device works similarly
occur more slowly. Supporting pipes near connections from with reverse motion. When the pipe moves slowly, the mass
a vessel, or keeping the first support of a branch pipe a good inertia acceleration reaction is insufficient to cause braking
distance from the run pipe, reduces loads on the connection.
and both ends of the snubber can freely move in or out.
SNUBBERS

DESIGN TIPS

Snubbers resist fast-acting loads much like rigid struts

Selecting support locations usually starts with weight balbut allow slow thermal movement with little resistance. The ance. Designers should first position weight supports near
devices effectively resist shock, water hammer, and earth- heavy lump masses such as valves and long risers. Then space
quake loads. Snubbers are sized based on load capacity and the rest of the supports outward from those locations and the
maximum travel.
anchors, always considering availability of structural members
A hydraulic snubber consists of a main cylinder with a to attach supports. Estimate support spacing for weight using
piston, and a compensation cylinder or reservoir. The main simple beam equations considering sag of about 0.1 in. for
cylinder and piston rod, respectively, are connected to oppo- power piping. Or use support spacing tables in the Codes as
site ends of the snubber unit. A port connects valves at both a starting point. Then add thermal restraints to control pipe
ends of the cylinder. When the pipe moves slowly, the piston movements. And install vibration sway braces (or struts) at
pushes fluid through the valves
to the back side with little resisTYPICAL SNUBBER ASSEMBLY
tance. When the piston reaches
a threshold velocity, the outlet
valve closes to stop the flow
and the unit behaves like a rigid
Ball joint
Snubber unit
Extension rod
Ball joint
strut. Reverse motion works in
a similar fashion.
A mechanical snubber con- The piston rod in a hydraulic snubber moves freely with slight pipe movements, but the unit behaves like
sists of telescoping tubes, ball a rigid strut above a threshold velocity.

44

07.18.13

MACHINE DESIGN

Fluid Power

strategic locations usually positions of maximum vibration

displacement. Place snubbers in the longitudinal directions of
long sections to bear waterhammer loads.
Structural attachments include nonintegral and integral
attachments. The former include clamps, straps, U-bolts,
and saddles that are bolted or otherwise connected to pipes
to transmit loads. Integral attachments, such as lugs, shoes,
stanchions, and trunnions are parts of supporting elements
that are welded to the pipe. Welding attachments to pipes is
preferred to welding them to valves, elbows, tees, or other fittings, which complicates local stresses and impairs flexibility.
However, consider the compatibilities of thermal-expansion
coefficients, strength, ductility, and weldability of attachments
and pipe materials. A general rule is to keep the weakest link of
the support assembly away from the pipe, and make supports
subordinate to the pipe to protect pressure-retaining boundaries especially when severely overloaded.
Supplemental steel members can bridge existing supporting
structures and pipe support components. These structures
typically include posts, beams, and brackets built from structural steel shapes such as angles, channels, I-beams, H-beams,
plates, and pipes mainly by welding.
When designing pipe supports, use software tools and
finite-element programs with caution. Calculate combined
loads by adding results from concurrent load cases coordinate
by coordinate. The absolute sum method is the most conservative method and justifiable if the system has both positive
and negative loads. The algebraic sum method, known as the

TRACKING DATA
DOCUMENTING DESIGN CALCULATIONS can be a nightmare if not done right. It is advisable to document all calculations so theyre traceable and reviewable. Traceability creates
a complete road map of information flow, even down to narrow targets such as the paragraph of the specification, or the
page, equation, or figure number of a reference. For a large
drawing, write down the exact title, the drawing, revision and
sheet numbers, and the coordinates for locating the object.
A reviewable document requires that calculations be
detailed enough for qualified people to duplicate them and
understand the document without help from the originators.
Computer program input lists should include all data and
commands to reproduce identical outputs. Those documents are best compiled using popular software that is easy
to manage. One application that fits the bill is MathCad. It
improves quality and productivity by mixing text regions and
calculations, enforces unit consistency to eliminate errors,
and lets one set of calculations be quickly copied and modified to create another.

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RESOURCES AND REFERENCES

THE PIPING INDUSTRY has long and extensive experience
in support design. In addition, a wide range of commercially
available standard components let engineers choose suitable
hardware for most supports. Major manufacturers of piping and
support products are also good sources of technical information.
And any designer of piping supports should not overlook one vital
step: walk down a few piping systems to see how and why the
pipes are so routed and supported.
Some good references for pipe-support design include:
Design of Piping Systems, The M. W. Kellogg Co., Revised
Second Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1956
Power Piping, USAS B31.1.0, USA Standard Code for Pressure Piping, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1967
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Sec. III, Subsection
NF, 1974 Ed
NAVCO Piping Datalog, National Valve and Manufacturing Co.,
Pittsburgh PA. 1974
Variable Spring Pipe Support Sizing, Piping Technology &
Product, Inc. Bulletin, http://www.pipingtech.com/technical/bulletins/variable_spring_sizing.htm
Variable Spring Supports versus Constant Spring Supports,
Dr. Hyder Husain, Pipingtech.com, Dec. 2, 2010. http://www.pipingtech.com/technical/articles/variable-vs-constant.htm
Expansion Joints, U.S. Bellows Inc., http://www.usbellows.
com
Engineering Pipe Support, Hydraulic Snubbers, Piping Technology & Product Inc. Bulletin, 2009. http://www.pipingtech.
com./technical/bulletins/hyd_snubber.htm
The Mechanical Snubbers, Piping Technology & Product, Inc.
Bulletin, 2009, http://www.pipingtech.com./products/mechanical-snubbers.htm
Mathcad, PTC Inc., www.ptc.com/product/mathcad

superposition principle, is applicable for static loads but leads

to gross errors when combining dynamic loads because the
frequencies and phase angles of dynamic responses are not
tracked. As a result, the sum may be smaller than its components. The SRSS (square root of sum of squares) method is
generally accepted as the most reasonable method for combining dynamic loads. Combined loads are then multiplied by
safety factors to get the design loads of the supports.
A piping system is an irregular 3D structure. Determine
loads on supports and stresses in pipes by considering the
entire system including masses, stiffnesses, and boundary
conditions. Support design should proceed concurrently and
iteratively with stress analysis of the piping system to ensure
the supports are effective and model assumptions are reasonable. The final goal is to satisfy both the stress criteria of the
pipe and connection load requirements of the equipment.