Stationary creep deformation of a smooth pipe bend under in-plane bending moments

Abstract The load-deflexion characteristics of the smooth pipe bend is one of the most important aspects in the design of pipework systems. The elastic behaviour is well known, but there is no comparable information to assist designers with pipework operating in the creep range. An energy method is used here to give a lower bound on the creep deformation of a bend based on an n- power stationary creep law. Results are presented in a form which will enable the deformation of the bend to be estimated from the result of a single creep test.