Reinforcement of Welded Branch Connections
 
  Calculation as per par. 304.3.3 by ASME B31.3
 
            ( Enter values only in yellow cells)
  DATA INPUT
             
  Header nominal pipe wall thickness  h =    mm Branch nominal pipe wall thickness b =     mm
  from ASME B36.10M or B36.19M                    
   Reinforcement thickness Tr =     mm  External Diameter Reinforcement,  Dr =      mm
 Recommended Reinforcement thickness Tr = Th
Dr < 2d₂ 
   External Diameter Hearder,  Dh =       mm  External Diameter Branch,  Db =      mm
             
   Quality factor, E =
  Internal design pressure, P =   barg
  See table A-1B           (Gage pressure)    
  Allow. for corrosion, c =    mm Allowable stress, S  =   MPa
        At the design temperatrure    
   Stress reduction factor, W =   Coefficient, Y =
 
  See table 302.3.5     See table 304.1.1    
  Angle between axes of branch and header β  =     grades Fillet weld leg =     mm
             
             
             
  CALCULATIONS
             
  Minimum thickness required by header,  Th =     mm Minimum thickness required by branch,  Tb =     mm
  considering a mill tolerance of 12.5%               considering a mill tolerance of 12.5%              
  Header  thickness for design pressure, th  =      mm Branch thickness for design pressure, tb  =       mm
             
   Effective length removed from pipe at branch,  d =       mm The reinforcement area, A  =     mm
d = [Db − 2(Tb − c)] / sin β 
A = thd(2 − sinβ) 
    “half width” of reinforcement zone,  d =      mm Area resulting from excess thickness in the run pipe wall, A  =     mm
  d= d or (Tb − c) + (Th − c) + d/2, whichever is greater     A =  (2d − d)(Th − th − c)     
   Height of reinforcement zone outside of run pipe,  L =       mm Area resulting from excess thickness in the branch pipe wall, A  =     mm
     L = 2.5(Th − c) or 2.5(Tb − c) + Tr, whichever is less
    A = 2L(Tb − tb − c) / sin β    
  A + A₃ + A₄ =         mm  Area of attached reinforcement, AIn Ring  =       mm
        A = (Tr)[Dr-(Db/sin(β))]    
  A₄ + A + A₃ ≥ A          Area of metal provided by welds,  A In Fillet Weld  =       mm
    A = (4)(1/2)(Leg)²    
        Considering all fillet welds are equivalent to 45 deg fillet welds     
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
           
  Reinforcement of Welded Branch Connections
 
  Calculation as per par. 304.3.3 by ASME B31.3
 
            ( Enter values only in yellow cells)
  DATA INPUT
             
  Header nominal pipe wall thickness  h =    in Branch nominal pipe wall thickness b =     in
  from ASME B36.10M or B36.19M               
   Reinforcement thickness Tr =     in  External Diameter Reinforcement,  Dr =       in
 Recommended Reinforcement thickness Tr = Th   
Dr < 2d₂  
   External Diameter Hearder,  Dh =       in  External Diameter Branch,  Db =      in
             
   Quality factor, E =
  Internal design pressure, P =    psig
  See table A-1B           (Gage pressure)    
  Allow. for corrosion, c =    in Allowable stress, S  =    psi
        At the design temperatrure    
   Stress reduction factor, W =   Coefficient, Y =
 
  See table 302.3.5     See table 304.1.1    
  Angle between axes of branch and header β  =     grades Fillet weld leg =     in
             
             
             
  CALCULATIONS
             
  Minimum thickness required by header,  Th =     in Minimum thickness required by branch,  Tb =     in
  considering a mill tolerance of 12.5%               considering a mill tolerance of 12.5%              
  Header  thickness for design pressure, th  =      in Branch thickness for design pressure, tb  =       in
             
   Effective length removed from pipe at branch,  d =       in The reinforcement area, A  =     in
d = [Db − 2(Tb − c)] / sin β 
A = thd(2 − sinβ) 
    “half width” of reinforcement zone,  d =      in Area resulting from excess thickness in the run pipe wall, A  =     in
  d= d or (Tb − c) + (Th − c) + d/2, whichever is greater     A =  (2d − d)(Th − th − c)     
   Height of reinforcement zone outside of run pipe,  L =       in Area resulting from excess thickness in the branch pipe wall, A  =     in
     L = 2.5(Th − c) or 2.5(Tb − c) + Tr, whichever is less
    A = 2L(Tb − tb − c) / sin β    
  A + A₃ + A₄ =         mm  Area of attached reinforcement, AIn Ring  =       in
        A = (Tr)[Dr-(Db/sin(β))]    
  A₄ + A + A₃ ≥ A          Area of metal provided by welds,  A In Fillet Weld  =       in
    A = (4)(1/2)(Leg)²    
        Considering all fillet welds are equivalent to 45 deg fillet welds     
 
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
                             
    Discussion and References
      Information about Reinforcement of Welded Branch Connections:
      ASME B31.3 Process Piping, para. 304.3.3
    Tables and Standards
  -  Table A-1 Basic Allowable Stresses in Tension for Metals
  -  Table A-1M  Basic Allowable Stresses in Tension for Metals (Metric) 
  -  Table A-1B Basic Quality Factors for Longitudinal Weld Joints in Pipes and Tubes, Ej 
  -  Table 304.1.1 Values of Coefficient Y for t < D/6 
  -  Table 302.3.5 Weld Joint Strength Reduction Factor, W 
  -  ASME B36.10M-Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe
  -  ASME B36.19M-Stainless Steel Pipe
  -  Mill Tolerance = 12.5%
                             
    Equations for Wall thickness calculation of straight pipes under internal pressure (304.1):
     
    For t < D/6, the thickness should be calculated by the equation:
                             
    Select from ASME B36.10M or B36.19M
    Mill Tolerance = 12.5%. (See ASTM Standards & appendix S of ASME B31.3)
    T = (1.00-0.125) =   (0.875)  Minimum thickness required, considering a mill tolerance of 12.5%
     Thickness for design pressure              
    t = PD           (eq. 3a as per par. 304.1.2)      
    2(SEW + PY)                
    The parameters in the wall thickness calculation of straight pipes under internal pressure
    equations above are:                  
       = Nominal pipe wall thickness, inches (mm)  from ASME B36.10M or B36.19M    
     T = Minimum thickness considering a mill tolerance of 12.5%, inches (mm)
     tm = Minimum thickness required, inches (mm)
     t = Thickness for design pressure, inches (mm)
     c = Sum of allowance for corrosion, erosion, slots and threads, inches (mm)
     P = Internal design pressure, psig (barg) (1bar = 100 kN/m2)
 D = External diameter, inches (mm)
     E = Quality factor (table A-1B) of ASME B31.3
     S = Allowable stress at the design temperature, psi (Mpa) (table A-1 or A-1M) of ASME B.31.3.
     Y = Coefficient that depends on the material and design temperature (table 304.1.1) of ASME B31.3.
     W = Stress reduction factor of welded joint, paragraph 302.3.5(e) and table 302.3.5 of ASME B31.3
                             
    The formulas below is used in the pressure design of branch connections. It is illustrated in Fig. 304.3.3, which does
    not indicate details for construction or welding. Some of the terms defined in Appendix J are subject to further
    definitions or variations, as follows:
      b = subscript referring to branch & h = subscript referring to run or header
     d1 = effective length removed from pipe at branch.
    For branch intersections where the branch opening is a projection of the branch pipe inside diameter (e.g., pipe-to-pipe fabricated branch),
    d =[Db  ̶  2(Tb  ̶  c)]/sin β            
    d2 = “half width” of reinforcement zone
    d = d  or (Tb  ̶  c) + (Th  ̶  c)+ d₁          
    2          
     L4 = height of reinforcement zone outside of run pipe
    L = 2.5(Th  ̶  c) or 2.5(Tb  ̶  c)+Tr    , whichever is less       
    Tb = branch pipe thickness (measured or minimum in accordance with the purchase specification) except for branch connection fittings (see para. 300.2). For such connections the value of Tb for use in calculating L4, d2, and A3 is the thickness of the reinforcing barrel (minimum per purchase specification), provided that the barrel thickness is uniform (see Fig. K328.5.4) and extends at least to the L4 limit (see Fig. 304.3.3.)
    Tr = minimum thickness of reinforcing ring or saddle made from pipe (use nominal thickness if made from plate) 
         = 0, if there is no reinforcing ring or saddle
     t = pressure design thickness of pipe, accordingto the appropriate wall thickness equation or procedure in para. 304.1. For welded pipe, when the branch does not intersect the longitudinal weld of the run, the basic allowable stress, S, for the pipe may be used in determining th for the purpose of reinforcement calculation only. When the branch does intersect the longitudinal weld of the run, the product SEW (of the stress value, S; the appropriate weld joint quality factor, Ej, from Table A-1B; and theweld joint strength reduction factor, W; see para. 302.3.5) for the run pipe shall be used in the calculation. The product SEW of the branch shall be used in calculating tb.
     β = smaller angle between axes of branch and run.
    Required Reinforcement Area. The reinforcement area, A1, required for a branch connection under internal pressure is:
    A =th d₁ (2  ̶  sin β)         (6)    
    For a branch connection under external pressure, area A1 is one-half the area calculated by eq. (6), using as th the thickness required for external pressure.
    Available Area. The area available for reinforcement is defined as
    A +A + A A₁           (6a)    
    These areas are all within the reinforcement zone and are further defined below.
    I.Area A2 is the area resulting from excess thickness in the run pipe wall
    A = (2d  ̶  d)(Th  ̶   th  ̶  c)       (7)    
    II.Area A3 is the area resulting from excess thickness in the branch pipe wall
    A = 2L(Tb  ̶  tb  ̶  c)]/sin β       (8)    
    If the allowable stress for the branch pipe wall is less than that for the run pipe, its calculated area must be reduced in the ratio of allowable stress values of the branch to the run in determining its contributions to area A3.
    III.Area A4 is the area of other metal provided by welds and properly attached reinforcement. [See para. 304.3.3(f).] Weld areas shall be based on the minimum dimensions specified in para. 328.5.4, except that larger dimensions may be used if the welder has been specifically instructed to make the welds to those dimensions.
    In ring              
    A₄ = (Tr)(Dr - Db )              
    sin β         Resultado de imagen de weld leg definition    
    In fillet welds              
    Considering all fillet welds are equivalent to 45 deg fillet welds       
    A₄ = No. Fillet welds x Aby fillet weld            
                             
    A₄ =  4 x 1/2 x Leg²                
    Reinforcement Zone. The reinforcement zone is a parallelogram whose length extends a distance, d2, on each side of the centerline of the branch pipe and whose width starts at the inside surface of the run pipe (in its corroded condition) and extends beyond the outside surface of the run pipe a perpendicular distance, L4.
    Multiple Branches. When two or more branch connections are so closely spaced that their reinforcement zones overlap, the distance between centers of the openings should be at least 1-1⁄2 times their average diameter, and the area of reinforcement between any two openings shall be not less than 50% of the total that both require.
    Each opening shall have adequate reinforcement in accordance with paras. 304.3.3(b) and (c). No part of the metal cross section may apply to more than one opening or be evaluated more than once in any combined area. (Consult PFI Standard ES-7, Minimum Length and Spacing for Branch Connections, for detailed recommendations on spacing of welded nozzles.)
    Added Reinforcement
    I.Reinforcement added in the form of a ring or saddle as part of area A4 shall be of reasonably constant width.
    II.Material used for reinforcement may differ from that of the run pipe provided it is compatible with run and branch pipes with respect to weldability, heat treatment requirements, galvanic corrosion, thermal expansion, etc.
    III.If the allowable stress for the reinforcement material is less than that for the run pipe, its calculated area must be reduced in the ratio of allowable stress values in determining its contribution to area A4.
    IV.No additional credit may be taken for a material having higher allowable stress value than the run pipe.