CAESAR II vs START-PROF Piping Stress Analysis Software Comparison
Material Database
The material database contains the flag “maximum f=1.2” for materials where it can be applied.
FRP/GRP/GRE Material Properties
A3 and System design factor calculated automatically where it needed. al() and hl() already multiplied by temperature factor A1 in the database. All material properties stored in the material database, all pipe and fitting properties stored in the pipe and fitting dialog windows.
The database contains all data needed for FRP/GRP/GRE analysis. Just select material and then work like it’s a steel piping. See Video about FRP/GRP/GRE stress analysis.
HDPE Material Properties
No analog in Caesar II. The database contains all data needed for the HDPE piping analysis. Just select material and then work like it’s a steel piping. See Video about the HDPE piping analysis.
Pipe Modeling
Different temperatures, pressures, etc. (see “L” button) can be different in different operation modes. Pipe uniform weight can be calculated depending on material density. Weld quality factors W got from the database automatically.
Start to consider high pressure for ASME B31.3-2016 Ch.IX automatically (different wall thickness check, occasion load factor k=1.2, different allowable calculation), not just removing liberal stress.
Additional properties of the pipe looks different depending on selected code. Here shown B31.1, B31.4, B31.8, ISO 14692, Plastic Piping:
Bends Modeling
START-PROF shows SIF and k-factors for all fittings (bends, tees, reducers, joints) right in the fitting properties dialog box and in stress table
Elbow Modeling
By default, all bend properties got from the matching pipe. But you can change its material, weight, wall thickness, etc.
ASME B16.9 and all ASME B31 codes don’t regulate the bend, tee and reducer wall thickness. Only the pipe wall thickness is regulated. So many people think that the elbows and other fittings have the same or almost the same wall thickness as the matching pipe. But in most cases the real bend, tee, reducer body wall thickness is greater than matching pipe wall thickness with the same Schedule.
For elbows, the real wall thickness can be 10%-40% greater than the matching pipe. Because bends must have greater wall thickness to hold the same pressure as the connected straight pipe.
Manufacturers usually produce the bends with a greater wall thickness than matching pipe, but we can get real bend wall thickness only after contacting the manufacturer or even measure it after delivery.
According to the ASME B31 and other ASME B31-based codes bend flexibility factor depends on real bend wall thickness, not on matching pipe wall thickness.
To solve this problem we added the special feature in PASS/START-PROF software that allows calculating the approximate “real” bend wall thickness on-the-fly according to ASME B31.3 304.2.1 and the same requirements in other ASME B31 and EN 13480 codes. Just push the button “C” near the “Wall Thickness” field and it will be calculated according to the code requirements.
Miter Bends
Non-Standard Bends
For non-standard bend user can apply SIF’s and k-factors manually.
Other Bends
No analog of such elements in Caesar II
- Long radius bend – section manufactured through pipe bending using a large radius, usually R>40DN. Does not have initial forces and stresses. Used in long pipelines
- Prestressed long radius bend – elastically bent pipe section with a large radius of R>1000DN (natural curve). Unlike a big radius bend, an elastic bend has initial stress. Used in long pipelines
- Miter joint (widely spaced miter bend) – single miter joint that is used for modeling the widely spaced miter bends of an as standalone element
Plastic/FRP Bends
Tees
Welding Tee
The START-PROF tee model is complex and contains internal hidden nodes. The tee run automatically modeled as the pipe with wall thickness that can be greater than the connected pipe (tn). That’s why START-PROF has “L” and “H” fields. Flexible connections are inserted on the header and branch if needed (if the user selected ASME B31J code or ASME BPV SIII div 1 class 1 NB 3686 method). No side software needed to use ASME B31J, it’s embedded.
1 – rigid element, 2 – tee header with user-specified wall thickness,
3 – pipe connected to tee header with a different wall thickness
SIF and k-factors are calculated automatically for all standard tees.
Fabricated Tee, Stub-in
Non-Standard Tee
For non-standard tees, the user can specify SIF and k-factors for header and branch: out-of-plane, in-plane, torsion, axial.
Weldolet, Sweepolet, Extruded
Each type of tee has only that properties that are needed for analysis according to the selected code.
Plastic/FRP Tee
Reducers
Concentric Reducer, Eccentric Reducer
A reducer is a node object, not the pipe element. You can delete it and geometry will not be changed.
Other Elements
Joints
Valves
A valve is a node object. Not pipe. You can delete it and geometry will not be changed. Modeled as a rigid element with specified weight.
Rigid Element
Rigid element is a “special” pipe object
Ballasting Weight
It is a special object used for modeling ballasting on underwater buried pipelines.
Flange Pair
Flange pair modeled as rigid element. Leakage check can be done.
Restraints
START-PROF has several “standard” supports that are most often used. And “Nonstandard Restraint” for everything else. Also, START-PROF allows specifying allowable loads. If support load is greater than allowable the table cell will be colored by red and warning messages appear in errors and warnings window.
Sliding Support:
Guide Support:
START-PROF Guide support consists of vertical and horizontal restraints. Allow setting the gap and friction factor. Allows to define allowable loads
Variable Spring Hanger/Support
Hanger table for spring selection is defined in project settings. START-PROF has a variable spring database that contains springs from several manufacturers. The database will be expanded in the future.
START-PROF has two types of springs: Hangers and Supports. Rod lengths can be specified for hangers and friction factors for supports. If the operation load or stiffness will be left blank, the software will select it automatically. During selection, the software suggests when spring should be replaced by constant spring. After replacement, it will be selected automatically. But the designer should make a decision because constant springs are more expensive.
Constant Spring Hanger/Support
START-PROF has a constant spring database and allows to selection of correct springs automatically. If vertical force left blank, then it will be selected
Anchor
Hinged Anchor
Hinged Anchor used to cut the model in separate parts and for some other purposes. Allows to define allowable loads
Rigid Hanger/Stand
Non-Standard Restraint
Non-standard restraint allows you to create any type of restraint
Loads
Node Forces/Moments
START-PROF has a slightly different ideology based on Operation Mode Editor ideology.
Additional weight loads are used for all operation modes cases including seismic.
Non-weight loads used for all operation modes excluding seismic.
Additional force-based loads used only in specified load cases, that is usually occasional (relief valve, water hammer, slug flow, etc.).
Uniform Loads
Uniform loads has the same ideology as node loads, see above. Loads in G’s are automatically calculated in START-PROF by static seismic load generator.
Displacements
In START-PROF no need to create CNODE and connect the node with displacements. Just add the anchor and add the “deformation” into it.
Expansion Joints:
Complex expansion joint models can be created in START-PROF, but it is not needed. START-PROF has standard expansion joint models. Allowable axial, rotation and lateral deformation is checked by software automatically. Expansion joint report is shown below:
Axial Bellows:
START-PROF has expansion joint database
Axial Slip Joint:
Axial One-time Compensator
This type of expansion joint is widely used in buried district heating networks to perform cold spring effect.
Gimbal:
Lateral:
Non-Standard:
Wind, Show, Ice, Seismic, Wave Loads:
Wind, Snow, Ice Loads:
Wind, Snow, Ice loads can be generated automatically. No Snow and Ice loads generator in Caesar II
Seismic Loads:
Wave Loads:
There’s no wave loads in START-PROF yet 🙁
Load Case Editor = Operation Mode Editor:
START-PROF has high-level Operation Mode Editor, based on templates. That allows do the same things as Load Case Editor, but in more fast and easy to understand manner.
Other Features:
START-PROF always consider Bourdon Effect (Translation & Rotation). Occasional load factor is taken according to selected code and chosen in operation mode editor. SIF multiplier for sustained stress is always according to the selected code.
See ASME B31.3 302.3.5 equation (1с). If selected, then the maximum value of stress range factor f can be 1.2 for materials with enabled option “Maximum f=1.2” in the material database, otherwise, the maximum value always f=1.0.
ASME B31J:
To use more accurate SIF and k-factors just turn on this switch (see below). All calculations and model modification will be done automatically on-the-fly. No need to use any additional software (B31J Essentials, FEATools).
Units Convention:
Units can be converted any time on-the-fly. Before analysis, and after analysis. No need to convert whole model.
Underground (Buried) Piping Analysis:
See Video about buried piping analysis with START-PROF.
There’s no underground pipe modeler in START-PROF. The Soil springs are added automatically each time you run an analysis. You can change the model and run analysis immediately, no need to open a backup copy of the model without soil springs, and run an underground pipe modeler again. START-PROF is very fast and easy.
Creep in High Temperature Piping:
Creep Effect (stress relaxation and self cold-springing effect) is considered for high-temperature piping in START-PROF. Not just for operating mode, but also for cold mode. The cold mode is the most dangerous for high-temperature piping due to the self cold springing effect.
Wall Thickness Check:
START-PROF has a special module START-ELEMENTS that allows to check wall thickness or allowable pressure for pipes, bends, tees, reducers, caps, flanges. Also before piping analysis START-PROF checks the wall thickness of all pipes and fittings to satisfy pressure requirements for all operating modes.
Pipe Stability (Buckling) Analysis:
START-PROF has several functions to analyze different type of buckling: Upheaval Buckling of Buried Pipeline, Upheaval Buckling of Buried Long-radius Bend, Lateral Buckling of Above-ground Pipe, Vacuum Piping Local Wall Buckling due to external pressure and due to external pressure, axial force and moment
Convergency Problems:
START-PROF has no problems with Iterative convergence. There’s no settings that user must change to achieve convergence. Everything is done automatically.
User Interface Functions:
You can change the properties of one object or group of objects very easily. You can select a part of piping and copy & paste, mirror, rotate, split it. Insert node on the pipe or bend, Move along the pipe or bend node, delete node(just select node, and click DEL button).
You can easily change the properties of the multiple objects (bends, tees, pipes, etc.) using properties float window. START-PROF has all the needed functions to work with independent piping segments.
Analysis result reports are smart and interactive: Code Stress Report, Spring Selection Report, Expansion Joint Report, Flange Leakage Report, Insulation Stress Report, Internal Forces, Support Loads Report, Local Wall Buckling Report, Node Displacements Report. All reports can be exported into Excel, Word, txt, html.
START-PROF has a smart errors and warnings window that all engineering warnings: Pressure failure, buckling failure, support lift off, Spring hanger variable range >25%, spring hanger load greater than allowable in all operating modes, sustained or fatigue stress failure etc. Not just only stress failure.
Graphic deformation shows hot/cold and install position, deformation position is simple and easy understand by end users.
Project Tree:
In the project tree, you can see the temperatures, pressures, etc, color diagram, select the needed group of an object and change its properties, delete, copy, etc. Also in START-PROF, you can see all other object properties like bends, tees, reducers, etc.
PDMS Interface:
START-PROF has free PDMS and E3D interface: See Video