HDPE Piping Stress Analysis Using the CAESAR Software With ASME NM.1 and NM.3.3

Abstract This technical paper defines a consistent approach for the stress analysis of PE piping based on guidelines of ASME NM.1. It includes CAESAR II setup (as an example) for HDPE pipe stress analysis and determines the qualification criteria for PE piping stress analysis. Recently ASME published NM.1 for thermoplastic piping systems, however this standard (code) does not exist in the latest Caesar software V13 (most recognized industrial software for stress analysis). The user of this document could run the stress analysis of HDPE through Caesar software with any version of this software. Define to how incorporate the correct allowable stress, service temperature, environmental factor, poison ratio, thermal expansion coefficient factor, appropriate stress code and apparent elastic modulus to meet the code cycles as well as how it will be implemented regarding the duration of sustained loading to have safe and standard design. Lastly addressing the proper stress intensification factor and load case combination to evaluate the stress analysis result. This technical paper applied to Caesar II V13 (latest revision) and all the previous revisions of this software as well. To date none of the Cesar II version has the ASME NM.1 in their database but in this paper have tried to justify using other code to be used and analyze the PE pipe.