CALCULATION OF PIPE THICKNESS FOR EXTERNAL PRESSURE

For design of piping systems under external pressure, first start to calculate the pipe
wall thickness under internal pressure. Second start to make a check for that
thickness if the pipe subjected to external pressure.

Note: if the pipe is not subjected to internal pressure, you can assume a pipe wall
thickness and proceed the external pressure calculation to see how much the pipe
will resist the imposed external load, may be you need to increase the pipe wall
thickness.

The pressure piping code ASME B31 guide us to use the ASME BPVC, Section VIII,
Div. 1, UG-28 for checking the assumed/calculated thickness of pipe wall.

Quoted

UG-28 Thickness of Shells and Tubes Under External Pressure

Where, A = Factor determined from Fig. G of Subpart 3 of Section II, Part D.

B = Factor determined from the applicable material chart, psi.

Do = OD of cylindrical shell course or tube, in.

E = Modulus of elasticity of material at design temp., psi

L = Total length, in. (see Fig. UG-28.1).

P = External design pressure, psi.

Pa = Calculated value of max. allowable external working pressure for the assumed
value of t, psi.

Ro = Outside radius of spherical shell, in.

t = Min. required thickness of cylindrical shell or tube or spherical shell, in.

ts = Nominal thickness of cylindrical shell or tube, in.

(c) Cylindrical Shells and Tubes :

(1) Cylinders having Do / t ≥ 10)

Step 1. Assume a value for t and determine the value of L/ Do and Do /t.

Step 2. Enter Fig. G at the value of L/ Do .

• For values of L/ Do > 50, enter the chart at a value of L/ Do = 50,

• For values of L/ Do < 0.05, enter the chart at a value of L/ Do = 0.05.

Step 3. Using the value of L/ Do , move horizontally to the line for value of Do /t.

From this point of intersection, move vertically downward to determine factor A.

Step 4. Using A, enter the applicable material chart, move vertically to an

intersection with the material/temp. line for the design temp. (see UG-20).

• If A falls to the right of the end of the curve, assume an intersection with the
horizontal projection of the upper end of the curve.

• For A falling to the left of the end of the curve, see Step 7.

Step 5. From intersection obtained in Step 4, move horizontally to the right and read
the value of B.

Step 6. Calculate the max. allowable external working pressure, Pa = 4 B / [3(Do/t)] .

Step 7. For values of A falling to the left of curve, Pa = 2AE / [3(Do/t)] .

Step 8. Compare the calculated Pa with P. Increase t until Pa ≥ P.

(2) Cylinders having Do / t < 10 :

Step 1. Using the same procedure as given in UG-28(c)(1), obtain the value of B.

• For values of Do /t < 4, the value of A can be calculated using the following formula
: A = 1.1 / (Do / t)2

• For values of A > 0.10, use a value of 0.10.

Step 2. Using the value of B, calculate a value Pa1 using the following formula : Pa1 =
[2.167/(Do/t) - 0.0833] B

Step 3. Calculate a value of Pa2 using the following formula : Pa2 = [2S/(Do / t)][1 -
1/(Do/t)]
where, S = Lesser of 2 times the max. allowable stress in tension at design metal
temp., from the applicable table referenced in UG-23, or 0.9 times yield strength of
the material at design temp. Values of yield strength are obtained from the
applicable external pressure chart as follows :

(a) For a given temp. curve, determine the B value that corresponds to the right
hand side termination point of the curve.

(b) The yield strength is twice the B value obtained in (a) above.

Step 4. The smaller of Pa1 or Pa2 shall be used for the max. allowable external
working pressure Pa .

Compare Pa with P, and change t until Pa ≥ P.

The t used in UG-28 needs to be the minimum thickness. If the pipe is ordered by its
nominal (average) thickness (as appears to be the case as reference is made to a
schedule (XXS/Extra Extra Strong), the 12.5% mill under-tolerance must be
deducted from the pipe t. ex.., tNominal x 0.875 = tminimum.

Additionally, the code states that all calculations used in the formulas in the code
shall be based on dimensions in the corroded condition, as it is assumed that the
material representing the corrosion allowance will disappear over time.

From UG-16 (e) of ASME Section VIII Division 1, quoted verbatim "Corrosion
Allowance in Design Formulas: The dimensional symbols used in all design formulas
throughout this Division represent dimensions in the corroded condition.

So; t Minimum = t Nominal x 0.875 and then;

t Minimum - Corrosion Allowance = t to be used to calculate allowable pressure, either internal or external.

Given as a single expression: t = (t Nominal x 0.875) - Corrosion Allowance.