Pipeline Mechanics Calculation with Hybrid Shell Modeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pipeline calculation software lacks efficiency in creating shell element components, requiring complex modeling and separate calculations, leading to low work efficiency and inaccurate stress analysis.

Innovation Solution

A mechanics calculation method that integrates pipe-beam and shell element modeling, allowing for simultaneous calculation and assessment of pipeline and shell components, using a hybrid model with master-slave node connections and material density conversion to enhance accuracy and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If shell element components are used for detailed pipeline component analysis, then calculation accuracy is improved, but modeling complexity and work efficiency deteriorate due to complex modeling methods and separate calculation procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation accuracyVSAvoidmodeling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pipeline calculation model and shell component model into a unified hybrid model. The pipe-beam elements and shell elements are connected through master-slave node relationships, allowing simultaneous calculation of both pipeline and shell component stresses in one pass, eliminating the need for separate modeling and calculation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces master nodes and slave nodes as intermediaries to connect pipe-beam elements and shell elements. The master node represents the connection point on the pipeline, while slave nodes represent corresponding points on the shell component, enabling force transmission and coordinate transformation between the two different element types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If shell element components are used for detailed pipeline component analysis, then stress analysis accuracy is improved, but work efficiency deteriorates due to separate calculation procedures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress analysis accuracyVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines pipeline calculation and shell component calculation into a single integrated process. The hybrid model allows the calculation program to compute displacements, internal forces, and stresses for both pipe-beam elements and shell elements simultaneously, completing pipeline and component assessment in one pass rather than requiring separate calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If separate calculation procedures are used for pipeline and shell components, then calculation process simplicity is maintained, but assessment accuracy deteriorates due to conservative load combination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation process simplicityVSAvoidassessment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates pipeline and shell component calculations into a unified hybrid model that computes all stresses simultaneously under the same working conditions. This eliminates the conservative load combination approach where pipeline pushing forces are added to device loads, providing more accurate local stress assessment without increasing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4625236A1Mechanical calculation method and apparatus for pipeline, and analysis method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 CHINA NUCLEAR POWER ENGINEERING CO LTD
  • EP4625236A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4625236A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4625236A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a mechanics calculation method and apparatus for a pipeline. The method comprises: generating, according to parameter information of all components in a pipeline to be calculated, a pipe-beam model formed by connecting a plurality of pipe-beam elements; acquiring a start node and an end node and meshing information of a target shell component requiring detailed analysis; generating a target shell component mesh model formed by joining a plurality of shell elements; replacing, with the target shell component mesh model, a pipe-beam element at a corresponding position in the pipe-beam model to form a hybrid model; performing finite element calculation on the hybrid model to obtain a displacement of each node of the hybrid model; calculating nodal internal forces of the pipe-beam elements based on nodal displacements of the pipe-beam elements; calculating stresses of the respective shell elements based on mesh nodal displacements of the target shell component mesh model; and calculating stresses of the pipe-beam elements based on the nodal internal forces of the pipe-beam elements. The method enables calculation and assessment of a pipeline and shell components to be accomplished in one pass, thereby greatly improving the wording efficiency and accuracy of pipeline design.