Pipe Support Span Calculator

Inputs

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Actual pipe outside diameter, not nominal pipe size.
in
Pipe wall thickness. Inside diameter is OD - 2t.
in
Support, hanger or pipe-rest spacing to check.
ft
Preset stiffness and pipe-material density. Use custom for a manufacturer value, temperature derate or unusual material.
Fluid density used for full or partial pipe fill. Water is about 998 kg/m^3.
lb/ft³
Percent of pipe bore treated as filled for support load. Use 100% for water-filled or hydrotest conditions.
%
Optional added uniform load for insulation, jacket, cable tray attachment, ice or carried hardware.
lb/ft
Allowable midspan deflection as span divided by n, such as L/240.
L/n
Bending-stress screen for the pipe wall. Final values should come from code, manufacturer data or engineering criteria.
ksi

Results

Default result
Edit inputs
Governing support span(L_gov)
20.33ft
Pass

governed by the entered deflection ratio

Also computed

Deflection-limited span(L_defl)20.33ft

using E = 200 GPa

Stress-limited span(L_stress)29.14ft

using allowable stress 80.0 MPa

Deflection at entered span(delta)Pass0.05952in

limit is entered span / 240.0

Deflection limit at span(L/n)0.5in

Bending stress at span(sigma)Pass1.367ksi

from uniform-load moment wL^2/8 and pipe section modulus

Stress margin(sigma_margin)Pass10.24ksi

remaining bending-stress margin

Pipe support span previewPipe support span previewSimply supported pipe under uniform pipe + fluid loadentered support span10.00 ftgoverning screen20.33 ftScreen only. Final hanger spacing must follow adopted code, manufacturer tables, thermal movement, seismic/restraint and site supports.
Method notes 4 notes
  • Pipe ID = OD - 2t. Pipe area, fluid area and ring moment of inertia use circular tube geometry.
  • Uniform load includes pipe self-weight, fluid weight and any entered added distributed load.
  • Simply supported deflection uses delta = 5*w*L^4/(384*E*I). Bending stress uses sigma = (w*L^2/8)/S.
  • Final hanger spacing still needs adopted plumbing/mechanical code, manufacturer support tables, temperature, insulation, valves, concentrated loads, anchors, guides, seismic/restraint, thermal expansion, vibration and site details.

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