Description: Sway Brace Product: AutoPIPE Version number: V8i (v9.1) Submitted by: MU

Read Thermal Movement (T1) in the restraint direction of Inclined Support

Enter Non-zero Stiffness for Inclined Support

Enter GR, T1 Preloads and T1 displacements at Inclined Support

Run Static Analysis with GR, T1, load cases with 0 Stiffness

Inclined Support and no Preloads

Re-Run STATIC Analysis

Observe Close to Zero Operating Load on the Inclined Support & Restraining

Anchor

Sway Brace

Sway Braces are commonly used for vibration control, absorbing shock loading, guiding thermal movement, or bracing against sway.

Example

Definition: Sway Brace has a rigid stiffness up to load limit of 1800lb, then stiffness changes to 1800lb/in. The full sway brace resistance load is exerted in the cold condition = free thermal movement * spring + preload e.g. The pipe moves 1.215" under thermal case T1 at node A01 (with inclined support removed), the sway brace load would exert a total 1800 lb/in x 1.215" plus 1800 lb preload = 3987 lbs in the Gravity case. When the pipe fully expands in the thermal T1 case there is zero resisting load in the hot operating condition.

Sample model: Sway_Brace_6.dat

100000 100000

1800 1800

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

Stiff

ness

(lb/

in)

Resisting Load (lb)

Sway Brace Stiffness

Inclined Support

Applied GR Displacement and GR & T1 Preloads

Insert a inclined support at A01, with 1800 lb /in spring rate

Insert > xtra data > concentrated force. Add 2 forces, +ve preload = 1800 in GR and –ve preload in T1 case i.e. gravity case force in same direction as thermal movment and force in T1 case in the opposite direction

Add a imposed displacement in the gravity case = the free thermal movement = 1.215”

Results show expected full preload = 3982lb exerted on anchor A00 by the sway brace. In the operating case – no load in seen in GT1 at both anchor A00 and A01 support