Workshop 2a

Creating Native Geometry: Pipe Creep Model

Introduction
Creep is the permanent deformation of a component under a static load maintained for a
period of time. Most metals and their alloys creep only at elevated temperatures, but
several materials such as thermoplastics and rubbers do so at room temperature.
Designers estimating the service life and structural integrity of components must account
for creep effects in their designs.
This model represents the intersection of a pipe with a cylindrical pressure vessel. The
system operates at elevated temperature and carries internal pressure. The calculation
consists of two steps. In the first step a static analysis is performed, during which the
internal pressure is applied. In the second step a quasi-static transient analysis is carried
out to determine the creep behavior of the pressurized vessel and pipe.
The geometry of the model is shown in Figure W2a–1. A one-quarter symmetry model is
used.

Figure W2a–1 Sketch of the intersecting pipes.

Note: The part created in this workshop will be used in subsequent workshops to build
the complete model and perform the analysis. It is important that you use the dimensions
stated and not deviate from the workshop instructions; otherwise, you may find it difficult
to complete the subsequent workshops.

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Preliminaries
1. Enter the working directory for this workshop:
../IntroClass/Workshops/pipeCreep
2. Start a new session of Abaqus/CAE using the following command:
abaqus cae
where abaqus is the command used to run Abaqus.
3. In the Start Session dialog box, underneath Create Model Database, click With
Standard/Explicit Model.
The Model Tree is located to the left of the toolbox area. If the Model Tree is not
visible, make sure there is a check mark next to Show Model Tree in the View
menu. If the Model Tree is still not visible, drag the cursor from the left side
of the Abaqus/CAE window to expand the Model Tree. The Model Tree provides
a visual description of the hierarchy of items in the model database along with
access to most of the model development functionality available in Abaqus/CAE.
If you click mouse button 3 on an item in the tree, a menu appears listing
commands associated with the item. For example, Figure W2a–2 shows the menu
for the Models container. In the Models menu, the Create menu item appears in
bold because it is the default action that will be performed when you double-click
the Models container.

Figure W2a–2 Models menu.

Defining the model geometry

As always, the first step in creating the model is to define its geometry. In this example
you will create a three-dimensional, deformable body to model the pipe intersection.
You need to decide what system of units to use in your model. The SI system of meters,
kilograms, and hours is used here; you can use another system if you prefer.

To create a part:
1. In the Model Tree, double-click Parts to create a new part in Model-1.
The Create Part dialog box appears.

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2. In the Create Part dialog box, name the part pipe-intersection and accept
the default settings of a three-dimensional, deformable body with a solid,
extruded base feature. In the Approximate size text field, type 2, as shown in
Figure W2a–3. This value is approximately 5 times the outer diameter of the
vessel. Click Continue to exit the Create Part dialog box.

Figure W2a–3 Part dialog box.

3. Open the Sketcher Options dialog box by clicking on the customization tool
from the Sketcher toolbox. In the Dimensions tabbed page, increase dimension
text height (16) and number of decimal places (3). Click OK to close the dialog
box and apply the changes.
4. Use the Create Circle: Center and Perimeter tool to sketch two concentric
circles of arbitrary radii, each centered at the origin. For convenience, place the
perimeter points along the X-axis of the sketch plane, as shown in Figure W2a–4.
5. Use the Add Dimension tool to dimension the circle radii (0.228 m for the
outer circle and 0.139 m for the inner one), as shown in Figure W2a–4.

© Dassault Systèmes, 2015 Introduction to Abaqus

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Perimeter
points

Figure W2a–4 Concentric circles.

6. In the prompt area, click Done to continue.

7. The Edit Base Extrusion dialog box appears. Enter a value of 0.458 m for the
depth of the solid extrusion and click OK.
The part appears as shown in Figure W2a–5.

Figure W2a–5 Extruded cylinder.

The cross-section of the intersecting pipe must be sketched on a planar region and
then extruded. Since the outer surface of the vessel is cylindrical, a datum plane
will be created and used for the purpose of sketching the intersecting pipe.
8. From the main menu bar, select Tools→Datum.
9. In the Create Datum dialog box, choose Plane as the type and Offset from
principal plane as the method.

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10. In the prompt area, choose the XZ Plane as the plane from which to offset.
11. Enter an offset distance of 0.528 m.
12. Click the Auto-Fit View tool in the toolbar to resize the view. The datum
plane is shown in Figure W2a–6.
13. In the Create Datum dialog box, choose Axis as the type and Principal axis as
the method.
14. Create a principal X-Axis as shown in Figure W2a–6 and close the dialog box.

Datum plane

Datum axis

Figure W2a–6 Datum geometry.

15. From the main menu bar, select Shape→Solid→Extrude. Do the following:
a. In the viewport, select the datum plane as the plane on which to create the
sketch.
b. Select the datum axis as the edge that will appear vertical and on the right of
the sketch.
c. Sketch a circle of arbitrary radius centered in the plane. Place the perimeter
point of the circle on the negative horizontal axis of the sketch plane. The
reason for this is that the model will later be quartered such that only the
upper-right quadrant of the part will be retained. By placing the perimeter
point outside of this quadrant, we ensure that no redundant edges will persist
afterwards. Dimension the radius of the circle and set it equal to 0.084 m.
d. Click mouse button 2 to continue, and click Done in the prompt area.
e. In the Edit Extrusion dialog box, choose the end condition Up to Face and
click to flip the extrusion direction so that it points toward the vessel, as
shown in Figure W2a–7. Click OK. When prompted, select the outer surface
of the base cylinder as the face to which the pipe will be extruded.

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Figure W2a–7 Arrow direction for solid extrusion.

16. From the main menu bar, select Shape→Cut→Extrude. Do the following:
a. Select the end plane on the smaller pipe as the plane on which to sketch, as
shown on the left side of Figure W2a–8.
b. Select the datum axis as the edge that will appear vertical and on the right of
the sketch.
c. Sketch a circle of arbitrary radius concentric with the circle representing the
pipe. As before, place the perimeter point of the circle on the negative
horizontal axis of the sketch plane. Dimension the radius of the circle and set
it equal to 0.05 m.
d. Click mouse button 2 to continue, and click Done in the prompt area.
e. In the Edit Cut Extrusion dialog box, choose the end condition Up to Face
and extrude the cut to the inner surface of the cylinder. The direction of
extrusion is into the pipe, as shown on the right side of Figure W2a–8.
Sketch plane

Direction of extrusion

Edge that will appear

vertical
and on the right

Figure W2a–8 Solid cut.

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17. From the main menu bar, select Shape→Blend→Round/Fillet. Select the edge
around the intersection as the edge to be rounded, as shown in Figure W2a–9.
Specify a radius of 0.04 m.

Edge to be rounded

Figure W2a–9 Rounded edge.

18. Quarter the model as follows:

a. From the main menu bar, select Shape→Cut→Extrude.
b. Select the datum plane as the plane on which to sketch.
c. Select the datum axis as the edge that will appear vertical and on the right of
the sketch.
d. Click the Auto-Fit View tool in the toolbar to resize the view.
e. Using the Create Lines: Connected tool , located in the upper right-hand
corner of the Sketcher toolbox, sketch the series of connected lines shown in
Figure W2a–10.
f. In the Edit Cut Extrusion dialog box, choose the Through All end condition
and the direction of extrusion into the pipe. Click OK.

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Because of how the

perimeter points were
placed, the edge of the
fillet will be removed
with this cut. This will
facilitate structured
meshing in a later
workshop.

Figure W2a–10 Cut profile.

The quarter symmetry model of the pipe intersection is shown in Figure W2a–11.

Figure W2a–11 Final geometry.

19. From the main menu bar, select File→Save to save your model in a model
database file named pipeCreep.cae. You will continue building this model in
subsequent workshops.

© Dassault Systèmes, 2015 Introduction to Abaqus