Pipe Wall Thickness Formula:
Definition: This calculator determines the minimum required wall thickness for pipes under internal pressure using industry-standard formulas.
Purpose: It helps engineers, designers, and technicians ensure pipe safety and compliance with pressure requirements.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the thickness needed to withstand the internal pressure based on material strength and joint quality.
Details: Proper thickness calculation ensures pipe integrity, prevents failures, and meets safety standards while optimizing material usage.
Tips: Enter the internal pressure, outer diameter, allowable stress (from material specs), and joint efficiency (default 0.85 for welded joints). All values must be > 0.
Q1: What units should I use?
A: Use consistent SI units: Pascals for pressure/stress, meters for dimensions. For psi/inches, convert results (1 psi = 6894.76 Pa, 1 inch = 0.0254 m).
Q2: What's a typical joint efficiency value?
A: 1.0 for seamless pipes, 0.85-0.95 for welded pipes with radiography, 0.7-0.8 for welded pipes without radiography.
Q3: Does this include safety factors?
A: The allowable stress (S) typically already includes safety factors per applicable standards.
Q4: How do I find allowable stress values?
A: Consult material specifications or standards like ASME B31.3 for process piping.
Q5: Should I add corrosion allowance?
A: This calculator gives minimum thickness. Add corrosion allowance based on expected service life and environment.