Operational Stress Steel Pipe
Introduction
A pipeline is subjected to three primary loading conditions during installation by HDD: tension, bending, and external pressure. A thorough design process requires an examination of the stresses that result from each individual loading condition as well as an examination of the combined stresses that result from the interaction of these loads.
Hence, the stresses imposed on steel pipe during both the HDD installation process and subsequent operation should be carefully evaluated.
Bending Stress (fb)
Bending stress resulting from a rigid steel pipe being forced to conform to the drilled radius of curvature

E = modulus of elasticity for steel (psi)
D = outside diameter of the pipe (inch)
R = Shortest Radius of Curvature (ft)
Hoop Stress (fh)
Steel pipe will fail by buckling or collapse when under the influence of hoop stress. Itβs important to calculate the wall thickness required to prevent the collapse of round steel pipe under the influence of hoop stress

P = Operating Pressure (psig)
H = Depth of the Pipe at Horizontal Section (ft)
Hw = Groundwater Table below Datum (ft)
Thermal Stress (ππ)
Thermal stress resulting from changes in pipe temperature from the point in time at which the pipe is restrained by the surrounding soil to typical operating condition
ππ = πΈπΌ(π1 β π2)
Ξ± = Thermal Expansion Coefficient (in./in.Β°F)
π1 = Installation Temperature (Β°F)
π2 = Operating Temperature (Β°F)
Total Longitudinal Compressive Stress
ππ = ππ + πβ *π +ππ
ππ = Total Longitudinal Compressive Stress
Ξ½ = Poissons Ratio
Maximum Shear Stress (fv)

Maximum Allowable Shear Stress (fva)
ππ£π = 0.45ππππ
SMYS β Specified minimum Yield Stress for Steel Pipe (psi)
Operating Conditions

Input Parameters
- Select the Operational Stresses β Steel Pipe application in the HDD Steel Pipe module.
- Enter Project Name, Location, Date, and any necessary notes.
- Fill out all required fields.
- Make sure the values you are inputting are in the correct units.
- Click the CALCULATE button.

- Poisson’s Ratio
- Young’s Modulus of Elasticity [psi]
- Thermal Expansion Coefficient [in./in.Β°F]
- Operating Pressure [psig]
- Pipe Outside Diameter [in.]
- Pipe Wall Thickness [in.]
- Specified Minimum Yield Strength [psi]
- Installation Temperature [Β°F]
- Operating Temperature [Β°F]
- Depth of the Pipe at Horizontal Section [ft]
- Groundwater Table below Datum [ft]
- Shortest Radius of Curvature [ft]
Outputs/Reports
- View the results.
- To SAVE, be sure to fill out all project details then click the SAVE button.
- To generate a REPORT, click the REPORT button.
Operating Conditions:
Bending Stress [psi]- Hoop Stress [psi]
- Thermal Stress [psi]
- Total Longitudinal Compressive Stress [psi]
- Maximum Shear Stress [psi]
- Maximum Allowable Shear Stress (45% of SMYS)
Related Links
Horizontal Directional Drilling Steel Pipes
Table of Contents
Table of Pages
- Pipeline HUB User Resources
- AC Mitigation PowerTool
- API Inspectors Toolbox
- Horizontal Directional Drilling PowerTool
- Crossings Workflow
- Pipeline Toolbox
- Encroachment Manager
- PRCI AC Mitigation Toolbox
- PRCI Thermal Analysis for Hot-Tap Welding
- PRCI River-X
- PRCI RSTRENG
- RSTRENG+
- Ad-hoc Analysis
- Database Import
- Data Availability Dashboard
- ESRI Map
- Report Builder
- Hydrotest PowerTool
- Investigative Dig PowerTool
- Hydraulics PowerTool
- External Corrosion Direct Assessment Procedure - RSTRENG
- Canvas
- Definitions
- Pipe Schedule and Specifications Tables