The bending and pressurizing of pipe bends with flanged tangents

Abstract Pipe bends with flanged tangents are analyzed, by linear thin shell theory, for the stresses and flexibilities by pure inplane bending and pressurization, assuming that they are not interactive. Results are presented for flexibilities, decay constants and stresses. Zero tangent lengths, that is, flanges directly on the bend, substantially reduce the stresses and bend deflections due to applied moments, but tangents longer than one pipe circumference effectively allow 90° bends to act as if they are unterminated. With pressurization, flanges on 90° bends only marginally reduce stresses and bend deflections compared to those for an unterminated bend.