Pipe Stress Engineering
6 Pipe Supports and Restraints
-
Published:2009
Providing sufficient pipe wall thickness and installing proper supports are two of the most important elements in ensuring structural integrity of the piping system. An adequate wall thickness is needed to contain the process fluid, and a proper support system is required for holding the pipe in place. Pipe supports are generally referred to as devices used in supporting the weight of the piping. The weight includes that of the pipe proper, the content the pipe carries, and the pipe covering, such as insulation, refractory, lining, and snow.
In addition to supports, a piping system may also need restraints to control movement, resist occasional loads such as wind and earthquake, protect sensitive equipment, increase stiffness, reduce vibration, and so forth. The purpose of using restraints is to restrict the movement of the piping in certain directions. Both restraints and supports for weight are collectively referred to as pipe supports.