Numerical Assessment of Elbow Element Response Under Internal Pressure

This study presents a detailed assessment for the response of elbow elements in ABAQUS under internal pressure. Two main cases are considered: (1) a standalone 90 deg pipe bend, which was analyzed using both elastic and elasto-plastic material characterizations using shell and elbow elements; and (2) a geometrically nonlinear analysis with a materially elastic characterization of a piping system was conducting using shell, elbow, and pipe elements. Although the results show the capabilities of elbow elements to simulate the response of pipe bends in the elastic regime, the elements do not provide reliable predictions beyond the elastic range. Additionally, an assessment of the ASME B16.49 2017 elbow thickness equation and previously published stress estimate equations was carried out by comparisons with elbow and shell elements predictions.