Abstract
Power-generating plants in the cold regions of the world can have temperatures below −10°C. Steel being the primary material of the piping systems in the energy-producing plant changes its properties when installed in such a freezing environment. So for temperatures below −10°C majority of the steels tends to become more brittle and their toughness is also affected. Some of the carbon steels can retain the same properties until they reach a temperature of −20°c. The suitability of piping systems for temperatures below the ambient temperatures is a function of several variables such as loading, manufacturing procedures, and material properties, also parameters that generally control the susceptibility for brittle fractures are material toughness, crack size, and tensile stress level. There is a need for a screening criterion to decide the suitability of steel which is generally fulfilled by following the codes. If a certain material falls beyond the limit then it is required to undergo impact testing.
Various types of restraints such as struts, shock absorbers, and dynamic clamps are seen in the piping industry which generally serves the purpose of providing support between piping and building structures. This paper mainly focuses on dynamic clamps, specifically dynamic yoke clamps. This type of dynamic clamp has a close fit around the pipe and acts as a restraint for some occasional events such as water hammers, seismic events, etc. This paper also discusses the design and analysis of dynamic yoke clamps subjected to different loads. The results obtained from the analyses are assessed as per different codes to determine whether the impact test is necessary or not. To fall within the limit as per the codes, changes can be made in the geometry, material, and loading.
