SWBPIPE · The open manual

SWBPIPE · The Open Manual

Piping flexibility analysis: fundamentals, models, and evidence

This manual explains piping flexibility analysis and how SWBPIPE implements it. It covers the mechanics, model preparation, verification cases, and transfer to other analysis software.

Start with the fundamentals to study the method, or choose a worked case to examine a calculation and its supporting evidence.

Read the fundamentals →Explore a worked case →See development overview →

SWBPIPE remains in development. Consult the status of this edition for current capabilities and limitations. The manual and its examples do not establish a design basis.

Contentsii

Contents

  1. Status of this Editioniii
    1. A. Mechanics and result limits
    2. B. Models that cannot yet be built or solved
    3. C. Bounded and unfinished capabilities
  2. Part I. IntroductionI
    1. A. What flexibility analysis is for
    2. B. Where the beam model stops
    3. C. How the method grew
    4. D. The name: Shipman, Watts and Burrows
  3. Part II. Fundamentals of Piping FlexibilityII
    1. A. Thermal expansion and restraint
    2. B. Primary and secondary loads; pressure
    3. C. Load cases
    4. D. The displacement stress range
    5. E. Bends, SIFs and branch connections
    6. F. The elastic centre and the force method
    7. G. Cold spring; hot and cold reactions
    8. H. Supports and restraints in practice
    9. I. Spring and constant hangers
    10. J. Equipment nozzles and imposed movements
    11. K. Occasional loads; how results feed a code check
  4. Part III. The Method in SWBPIPEIII
    1. A. The 3D beam model
    2. B. Loads
    3. C. Supports
    4. D. Load cases and combinations
    5. E. Stress recovery
  5. Part IV. Modelling GuideIV
    1. A. Building a model
    2. B. Components
    3. C. Supports, hangers and nozzles
    4. D. Load cases for a typical job
    5. E. Code data you enter
    6. F. Checking a model
  6. Part V. Validation ElsewhereV
    1. A. Design here, validate there
    2. B. The export today
    3. C. What changes when you validate
  7. Part VI. VerificationVI
    1. A. System benchmarks · 4 cases
    2. B. Elements and loads · 14 cases
    3. C. Stress recovery · 15 cases
    4. D. Nonlinear supports · 6 cases
    5. E. Algorithm and software checks · 26 cases
    6. W. Withdrawn · 2 cases
    7. Still to come
    8. The planned program
  8. Part VII. Theoryin preparation
    1. The derivation of every equation in the solver, published chapter by chapter
  9. GlossaryG
    1. Practitioner’s terms, with their equivalents in other programs
  10. SourceMIT
    1. The solver, the program and the schemas

Related reading: Chirality’s manuals for working with agents.

Published openly, 2026 · MIT license · SWBPIPE program · Chirality AI Ltd