Extended applications of LBB piping evaluation diagrams for a new plant design

Plant specific data, such as pipe geometry, material properties and pipe loads, are required to apply leak-before-break (LBB) to a piping system. Thus, LBB evaluation cannot be done until piping design and routing are completed. A simple method for evaluating LBB for piping systems during design process considering the effects of nozzle and the change in local and global compliance in cracked piping system is developed in this paper. This method produces piping evaluation diagrams for intermediate pipe locations and pipe-nozzle interface locations which defines the LBB requirements to the piping designer for use during the design process and is independent of pipe routing. Piping evaluation diagrams can be used for the LBB evaluation for a new plant design. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.