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What is the material of the system under discussion?
"allowable stress in expansion is 295 MPa"
There is no such thing as an "allowable stress in expansion". The B31 Codes address stresses due to thermal expansion displacement strains with the concept of allowable stress RANGE.
I think you are confused about the B31 Codes concept of Allowable Stress RANGE as a comparison for the calculated stress RANGE. The B31 Codes address the stresses due to thermal expansion/contraction displacement strains quite differently that the stresses due to sustained weight and pressure.
Read B31.3 paragraph 319.3.1(a). The stress RANGE is calculated as the algebraic difference between the value at MAXIMUM metal temperature and that at MINIMUM metal temperature for the cycle under analysis. You must calculate the full thermal displacement stress RANGE and compare that to the Code maximum allowable displacement stress RANGE (see B31.3 paragraph 302.3.5(d)). That is to say (in the case that you cite), the calculated full displacement stress RANGE is the SUM of the displacement stress that results from the thermal excursion from the installed temperature (say 21 degrees C) down to -140 degrees C ADDED TO the displacement stress that results from the thermal excursion from the installed temperature (say 21 degrees C) up to 50 degrees C. Each of these is a "zero to peak" stress and the RANGE (the sum of the two) is a "peak to peak stress RANGE". According to B31.3 paragraph 319.3.1(a), the value of this sum (the "peak to peak stress RANGE") must be less than the value of the Code maximum allowable displacement stress RANGE s calculated in accordance with B31.3 paragraph 302.3.5(d).
The equation from see B31.3 paragraph 302.3.5(d) is of the form:
Sa f * ((1.25 * Sc) + (0.25 * Sh)
Sa is the calculated maximum allowable stress RANGE
Sc is the cold allowable stress at temperature from App. A
Sh is the hot allowable stress at temperature from App. A
So, where does this equation for maximum allowable stress RANGE come from?
The stress RANGE concept was introduced into the B31 Pressure Piping Code in the early 1950's. The concept underlying this rule is very well described in the famous book by S.W. Spielvogle (Piping Stress Calculations Simplified, Fifth Edition, 1955). When you read Spielvogle's explanation please understand that in the original form in which this concept was introduced into the Code allowed Sc and Sh to be either 1/4 of the tensile strength of the material or 5/8 of the yield strength of the material (whichever is smaller). In the modern B31.3 the Code allows Sc and Sh to be either 1/3 of the tensile strength of the material or 2/3 of the yield strength of the material (whichever is smaller).
Go here for this book:
Spielvogle explains that the B31 rules intend for the piping engineer (analyst) to be able to use the entire range of stress from the material yield point at the operating (hot) temperature to the material yield point at the ambient (or coldest) temperature (less a factor of safety). Since Sh (neglecting the possibility of creep) is set at 2/3 Sy for both the hot and cold conditions, we can calculate the hot yield stress as Sh*1.5 and we can calculate the cold yield stress as Sc*1.5. Taken together the total allowable stress range for the combined SUSTAINED loadings of weight (bending), longitudinal pressure (tension) AND thermal expansion (displacement) would be (1.5*Sc) + (1.5*Sh), or 1.5(Sc + Sh). This range of allowable stress has been reduced slightly to allow for the vagaries of material and for other “real world” inaccuracies. The Code philosophy would then permit the total allowable stress range (after the factor of safety is applied) for all the combined loading described above to be 1.25(Sc + Sh) (if ,in this discussion, we neglect the stress range reduction factor ,”f”, for simplicity). However the Code uses 1.0Sh for the sustained loadings of weight and longitudinal pressure (so we then must subtract this from the maximum allowable stress range for thermal displacement alone) and this leaves 1.25*Sc + 0.25*Sh for the allowable thermal expansion (displacement) stress range alone.
Because the Code intends for the entire strength of the material (from hot yield to cold yield) to be used for the total loading (except for the “adjustment” made for vagaries), it follows that the rule in the Code paragraphs cited above allows the analyst to put the unused (difference between calculated sustained longitudinal stresses and the allowable 1.0*Sh) portion to use in increasing the allowable thermal expansion (displacement) stress range (this is sometimes referred to as the "liberal allowable stress RANGE) . You will recognize that the “excess” sustained case allowable stress will vary across the system being analyzed and that the variation will directly reflect how well supported the system is (bending stresses will have the greater effect). This variation in “excess” sustained case allowable stress from node to node in the model will (when the “liberal” option is used) result in the allowable stress range, Sa, being different at every node when the Code compliance report is viewed.
The concept of allowable stress RANGE addresses the piping at its coldest and at its hottest so the maximum allowable stress RANGE can only be compared to the calculated stress RANGE (peak to peak) from the RANGE from its coldest to its hottest. However, there should be really very few of these full RANGE temperature excursions in the life of the system - perhaps only one. All the other RANGES of temperature excursions (e.g., ambient to operating and operating to ambient) will be "partial cycles" and the Code describes the method of addressing these in B31.3 paragraph 302.3.5(d), equation (1d). Remember we are addressing many cycles as this is a fatigue based approach. This method of addressing thermal displacement stress RANGE (peak to peak) differs significantly from the way "sustained" stresses are addressed. The stresses due to sustained weight and pressure (Sustained Stresses) are zero to peak.
Again, the Code allows the "peak to peak" stress to be nearly as high as 1.25(Sc + Sh), but no higher. If you just look at the zero to peak stress of only one of the two constituents that one constituent still "usually" cannot exceed 0.66 of the yield strength of the material at temperature (I hedge there because under occasional loadings we can take it up to 0.80 of the yield strength). So, if the "half" of the "peak to peak" thermal displacement stress (as you say from ambient to -140 degrees C) exceeds the yield strength of the material you have a problem. We know that when we apply these concepts to cycling piping systems (especially to hot pipes) there may be a little plastic deformation in the first few cycles and then the system will "shake down" to purely elastic behavior. As long as we do not see continuous plastic deformations (yielding of the material) in opposite directions at the hottest condition and the coldest condition of each cycle (racheting) the system will "relax" into a sustaining level of stress ("completely shaken down") where subsequent temperature excursions will not result in additional plastic deformation at either temperature extreme throughout its cycle life. So if you calculate that the ambient to -140 degrees C temperature excursion will exceed 100 percent of the yield strength of the material you had better find a design solution to that problem.
Regards, John