Finite Element Analysis of Overhead Pipeline Truss Bridge under Thermal Fluid Loads

The subject used in this study is an overhead pipeline truss bridge which sits in a chemical industrial park. The overhead pipeline truss bridge is a part of a pipeline system consisting of 10 sets of columns, 4 layers of pipe racks and 27 pipelines that transports flowing media under various temperature and pressure conditions. An integrated ANSYS finite element model was built considering the factors such as gravity, medium temperature, and flow load, etc. The results of the distributions of displacement, axial force, shear force, bending moment and stress of the overhead pipeline truss bridge were calculated. The primary stress and secondary stress were checked to judge the reliability of the overhead pipeline truss bridge. It concluded that the computation model and calculation used in this study is feasible and effective. The feature in this paper is to explore a practical method and to provide a solid technological foundation for the safety operation and assessment of overhead pipeline truss bridge.