Pipe Thermal Expansion Calculator

Inputs

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Straight pipe run length over the temperature change.
ft
Operating temperature minus installation or reference temperature. Positive means heating/growth; negative means cooling/shrinkage.
°F
Preset coefficient of thermal expansion and elastic modulus. Use custom values for manufacturer data or temperature-derated plastic pipe.
Actual outside diameter, not nominal pipe size.
in
Pipe wall thickness used to calculate pipe area and restrained anchor force.
in
Extra margin added to free movement for a simple movement allowance.
%
Stress screen used only for the fully restrained case.
ksi

Results

Default result
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Free pipe movement(dL)
0.8in
Caution

growth from heating

Also computed

Movement allowance(dL_allow)Caution0.88in

includes 10.0% movement margin

Center-anchor each side(dL_center)0.44in

if an anchor splits movement roughly equally each direction

Fully restrained stress(sigma)Pass19.34ksi

fully restrained case using E = 200 GPa

Restrained stress margin(sigma_margin)Pass2.417ksi

remaining stress margin in the fully restrained screen

Restrained anchor force(F_anchor)Pass20,780lbf

fully restrained stress times pipe wall area

Calculated pipe ID(ID)2.067in

Pipe thermal movement previewPipe thermal movement previewFree growth/shrinkage from alpha x length x temperature changefree movement0.800 inrestrained force20780 lbfIf both ends are rigidly restrained, thermal strain becomes stress and anchor force instead of free movement.Screen only. Final expansion loops, guides, anchors and joints need code, manufacturer data and engineered piping layout.
Method notes 4 notes
  • Free movement uses dL = alpha*L*dT, with alpha entered in ppm/deg C.
  • Movement allowance is absolute free movement multiplied by the entered margin.
  • Fully restrained stress uses sigma = E*alpha*abs(dT). Anchor force uses F = sigma*A_pipe.
  • This is a screening tool only. Final piping still needs expansion loops, offsets, joints, guides, anchors, supports, code/manufacturer limits, temperature derating, creep, seismic/restraint and vibration review.

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