Deformation and stress analysis of a U-shaped pipe compensator using a 3D scanner

The paper shows a comparison of the three different methods to determine stress and strain in a U-shaped pipe compensator which is used to decrease stress in long pipes due to the constrained temperature dilatations. The stress and strain are analyzed analytically first with some parts of the analytical solution obtained numerically, such as integrals with no analytical solution in a closed form, i.e., functional series can be involved as a tool to solve those integrals. The pipe is analyzed as a beam or a planar frame using the Castigliano's method to determine displacements. Since there are curved parts of the U compensator, the curved beam theory is applied. The alternative method to determine the strains and stresses along the pipe is shown using the numerical simulations in SolidWorks. The results are compared with the analytical solution. Finally, the experimental method using a 3D scanner is involved for a comparison to check the applied conditions in the analytical and the simulation model.