Piping Stress Analysis Software 2

[Alex Matveeff]

Which software is the best for pipe stress analysis?
Price ($), maintenance price ($), how friendly is user interface (1-5), functionality
Need objective comparison of as many as possible software.

 

[XL83NL]

CII continues to grow with some features I havent seen in e.g. Ap (AutoPIPE), like their nozzlepro or FEnozzle (or whatever they call it) options for nozzle analysis, early adaptation of B31J computations, and I think currently even an EN 1591-flange analysis, etc.
I have always though of AP to be far more user friendly over CII when it comes to editing a model in terms of piping runs, something I have to do 99% of the times.

It is developing since 1965

That early?

 

[RVAmeche]

As XL83NL indicated, Caesar II currently has some advanced FEA options for nozzles. Additionally, one of the original designers of the software (Tony Paulin) has started his own research group and was tasked with updating the ASME B31.3 SIF data and developing new equations for them since the 1940s. This data has now been published in B31J.

So they (the developers of Caesar II) have deep ties to ASME and former members are still contributing to the advancement of the code via FEA & new SIFs. I'm sure the other software packages have members on committees, but the level of expertise at Caesar II is very likely a comfort to end users.

Edit - Not saying Caesar II's FEA is groundbreaking, but it is a very nice extra feature for a pipe stress analysis package

 

[Alex Matveeff]

XL83NL, Yes. From 1965. 20 years earlier than CII.
To use B31J in CII you need to convert model using FEAtools. It takes a lot of time. In START-PROF you just turn on the option "Use B31J" and run analysis again. Tees, bends, reducers will be calculated using B31J SIF's and k-factors.

We have "Nozzle FEM", it is the same as FEnozzle, but better user interface.
In the next version we will merge "Nozzle FEM"+"START-PROF". It will calculate SIF and k-factors using FEA. Both software has the same developer.

We have so easy user interface, that to start working training is not needed. Just draw piping and run analysis. Is it possible in other software?

About load case editor. It is not advantage of software. It is disadvantage. Load case editor is not needed. We have a better and more advanced feature.

Thank you for your replies!

 

[LittleInch]

I appreciate you are pushing start-prof, but these forums do not want to get into the realms of different vendors pushing their products.

To state "everything is a piece of cake" is neither technical nor able to be challenged in any way.

This is an advert, pure and simple and this is not permitted in the rules of Eng -Tips

Sorry.



Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[RVAmeche]

To follow up LI, I don't know when the last time you used Caesar was but modifying existing piping isn't too bad at all. It can get cumbersome when it's a CadWorx output so the node numbers are all out of whack, but if you modeled the piping logically and need to add expansion loops, or re-route the piping later, it isn't too hard.

Lastly, I disagree with your basic premise of "if anyone was using START-PROF they could do pipe stress analysis". That is just false. Anyone can use any program and eventually figure out how to make it spit out results. But you have to have some training or knowledge of pipe stress analysis to understand the numbers you're seeing, understand your mistakes/oversights, and have realistic ideas of how to solve the issue.

 

[Alex Matveeff]

Mr. LittleInch,
Why you didn't delete the topics about CAESAR II on this forum? It is advert too. Why only my posts?

 

[XL83NL]

Which CII posts do you mean, Alex?

 

[Alex Matveeff]

RVAmeche, how to delete the existing node in CII?
What is modeled piping logically? What if I modeled it not logically? I can't change anything?
All bad numbers are painted by red color. Your goal is to eliminate all red color. But to understand how to do it, of course you need to have basic knowledge in pipe stress analysis. And training only needed to understand how to reduce support loads and stresses. Not how to use software.

 

[RVAmeche]

If you don't know how to modify a piping model in CII, then that's on you. It's not a flaw with the program.

CadWorx used to have a bug where the node numbering would get out of sequence; ie your pipe could go 50-100-432-638-300. That's not an "issue" but it makes modifying a model (adding/deleting or rerouting nodes) more difficult because the numbering isn't consistent.

 

[XL83NL]

There’s no single advert on that I’m afraid, even not from user richay, as I see it. If you don’t understand that, and no sarcasm involved, I’m not going to bother explaining that. Theyre just Q&A topics on CII, whereas this topic has a different smell.