303

ELASTIC STRESSES IN SINGLE MITRED BENDS

By B. S. Owen* and W. C. Emmersont
Experimental results are presented for the stresses caused by internal pressure in thin
pipes which are mitred and welded together to form a single mitred bend without any
type of elliptical insert at the intersection. The frozen-stress photoelastic technique is
used, the models being carefully machined and cemented to form a joint free from
welding imperfections. The results are compared with the theoretical analysis for small-
angle mitred bends, of Green and Emmerson (I)*. An alternative derivation of this theory
is given in Appendix I. Good agreement with the theory is shown for small-angle bends
for each of the two thicknesses of pipe used. For larger angles of bend, the agreement is
less good. The results of a test carried out on a mitred joint subjected to an in-plane
bending moment, are included.

INTRODUCTION plane a reinforcing ring or plate which is sufficiently stiff

JOINTS formed by mitring and welding together two
lengths of thin-walled pipe of circular section are of
frequent occurrence in pipeline systems (Fig. 1). Such
joints may occur singly or as one of a number of mitred
joints in a gussetted or ‘lobster-back’ bend. The most
important loading conditions for a mitred joint are internal
pressure, ‘in-plane’ bending (i.e. bending in the plane
containing the axis of each part of the pipe), and ‘out-of-
plane’ bending (i.e. bending in a plane containing the
axis of one part of the pipe, and at right angles to the plane
of in-plane bending). In the majority of cases, the effects
of axial thrust and shear loading transverse to the pipe
axis may be assumed to be small.
The stresses and deflections at the joint due to the
loads are considerably influenced by the amount of
stiffening at the intersection plane. This may vary between
two extremes: (1) the ideal unstiffened joint, where the
weld metal is machined off to produce sharp edges at the
joint, the pipe wall being of uniform thickness throughout,
and in particular, right up to the intersection plane; (2)
the rigidly stiffened joint which has at the intersection
The M S . of this paper was first received at the Institution on 26th
June 1963 and in its revised form, as accepted by the Council for
publication, on 9th September 1963. The experimental results pre-
sented in this paper formed part of the thesis of one of the authors
(W.C.E.), submitted for the degree of Ph.D. at King’s College,
Newcastle upon Tyne in the University of Durham (now the
University of Newcastle upon Tyne), in 1962. Some of the results
were presented at the Second International Conference on Stress
Analysis in Paris in April 1962.
* Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Newcastle
upon Tyne.
t Development Engineer, Container and Packaging Machinety Divi-
sion, Vickers-Armstrongs (Engineers) L t d , Crayford Works. Grad-
uate of the Institution.
4 References are given in Appendix I I I .
JOURNAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
to prevent any appreciable distortion in the ellipse of
intersection, this second case corresponding to complete
fixation at the mitred section of the pipe. I n a normal
welded joint, the weld metal provides an increased pipe
thickness at the intersection. The stiffening effect of this
is, however, small, and the state of affairs is close to that
of case (1). Where an elliptical reinforcing ring is included
at the intersection either to reduce the maximum stress,
or to carry guide vanes which reduce the loss of static
pressure head in gases flowing in the pipe, the stiffness
of the ring is usually insufficient to prevent significant
deflection at the intersection plane and the condition is
one of partial clamping lying somewhere between case (1)
and case (2).
The present paper is concerned with the stresses in a
single ideal unstiffened mitred joint without any type of
elliptical insert at the intersection, loaded by internal
pressure. The effect of a stiffening ring at the joint, and
the stresses caused by bending loads are the subjects of
further investigation, the results of which will be published
in due course. A short discussion of the effect of bending
loads together with some experimental results is included
at the end of the paper.
Notation
a Mean radius of pipe wall.
A, B, C, D Functions of 6 only.
C 2--v+(l-2~) sin2 6 tan2 a.
E Young’s modulus of elasticity of material of
pipe.
F,, F,, F, Force per unit length in x, y, z directions.
h Thickness of pipe wall.
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304 B. S. OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON

Fig. 1. Araldite models of mitred bends

4 Angle between tangents to mid-wall surface

i 3a3(1-v2)
h2
1
( I + sin2 6 tan2 a>
-
in plane at intersection and in plane
normal to axis, at a point in the intersection
- k2
plane.
1+sin2 0 tan2 a
Functions of % only. Previous theoretical work on mitred bends
Tension per unit length, in plane of pipe A theoretical analysis of the rigidly stiffened mitred joint
wall, in axial, circumferential, directions. (case (1) of the previous section), loaded by internal
Shear per unit length in plane of pipe wall. pressure, was made by Kornecki (2) who used the equa-
Internal pressure acting on bend. tions of thin shell theory as stated in Gol’denveizer (3) to
Transverse shear per unit length in pipe obtain a membrane solution, an edge solution being added
wall on r5, r%, planes.
‘
in order to comply with the boundary conditions at the
Radial distance from axis of pipe. joint. An alternative form of this solution is given in
Co-ordinate measured radially outward from Appendix I*. Van der Neut ( 5 ) obtained a solution for a
mid-wall of pipe (= r-a). cylindrical shell bounded by an unstiffened helical edge
Functions of % only. of constant helix angle, and applied his solution to the
Axial, tangential, radial, displacements of
case of the cylindrical shell with an oblique end section
point on mid-wall surface of pipe. loaded by internal pressure, correcting for the difference
Axial co-ordinate of point on mid-wall sur- in geometry by adding external loads at the oblique edge.
face of pipe. The longitudinal stress given by this solution shows varia-
Inclination of intersection plane of bend to a tions around the circumference, at sections remote from
normal section of either pipe. the joint, which are not expected, nor are they confirmed
Angle between radius to point on mid-wall by experiment. Green and Emmerson (I) using an idea
of pipe and radius to inside of bend.
of Johnson and Reissner (6) obtained a solution for the
Function of 0 only. unstiffened bend based on the general three-dimensional
Poisson’s ratio for material of pipe. equations of elasticity, which is valid for small values of the
Non-dimensional axial co-ordinate of point semi-angle of bend, a. The stress distribution thus ob-
z--a cos e tan a
in mid-wall of pipe =
2t/h.
( a
tained is the same as that of van der Neut for small values
of a, and indicates that van der Neut’s analysis is valid
only for small values of a, although no such reservation
Direct stress (axial) (= ur). appears in his assumptions. This point is discussed in (I).
Direct stress (circumferential). * Turner ( 4 ) states that a translation of reference (2)’ from the
Shearing stress in 2% plane (= T ~ J . Polish, has been deposited with the Librarian of this Institution.
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 ELASTIC STRESSES IN S INGLE MITRED BENDS
Green and Emmerson also show how the solution of
Kornecki may be obtained by the same basic method. An
alternative derivation of the results of Green and Emmer-
son, using the normal shell theory equations, is given in
Appendix I. The only theoretical work on mitred bends
subjected to bending loads, known to the authors, is a
section in Green and Emmerson's paper. The results of
this section are not confirmed by experiment and are
briefly discussed at the end of the paper.
Previous experimental work
Experimental work has been carried out by Lane and Rose
(7) who tested separately 12-in diameter, +in thick 90"
lobster-back, steel, welded bends with 223" and 15" mitre
angles, under internal pressure, in-plane bending and
out-of-plane bending in one case, measuring stresses at
the joints and midway between the joints using wire
resistance strain gauges 3 in long. Lane and Rose point
out that, owing to the high strain gradient near to the
joint, it is doubtful whether the true maximum strain was
measured. Turner (4) quotes the results of an internal
pressure test on a single right-angled mitred bend made
from 9-in diameter, &-in thick steel pipe reinforced at
the intersection by a heavy elliptical plate. Good agree-
ment with the theory of (2) is shown provided that a
suitable datum for the longitudinal measurement from the
joint is chosen. Macfarlane (8) tested a slightly wider range
of lobster-back bends under alternating in-plane and
out-of-plane bending, and alternating internal pressure.
Mackenzie and Beattie (9) tested an 80-in diameter,
li-in thick single 90" mitred joint under internal pressure
using wire resistance strain gauges, and repeated their
tests with a reinforcing ring at the intersection. Gross and
Ford (10) tested a lobster-back bend loaded by an in-plane
h, in I 0.1
a, degrees
L , in
Fig. 2. Dimensions of mitred bends used in pressure tests
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305
bending moment, but did not measure stresses at the
joints. Markl (11) tested gussetted bends welded on the
outside surface only, under alternating in-plane and out-
of-plane bending.
THE EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION
Details of models
The theory of Green and Emmerson (I) assumes that the
mitre angle is small, and also makes certain assumptions
concerning the order of magnitude of the stress com-
ponents and displacements. In order to test the validity
of these assumptions, and to assess the range of mitre
angle within which the theory applies, experiments were
performed with models made of an epoxy casting resin,
using the stress-freezing technique of photoelasticity. It
was found possible to manufacture accurate, reasonably
small, models of an ideal joint, the mitred pipe lengths
being cemented together and the surplus adhesive being
trimmed off to make a perfectly sharp joint. The variation
of pipe wall thickness around the pipe circumference,
and the deviation from true circularity, of the pipe lengths
were negligible. Using this method a comprehensive
picture of the stress distribution in the vicinity of the
joint was obtained. It was then possible to assess the
accuracy of the theory without having to take account of
imperfections of manufacture such as out-of-circularity
of pipe, variation of pipe-wall thickness, welding imper-
fections, reinforcing effect of weld, etc.
I n all, eight models were pressure tested (Fig. 2) with
a mean pipe diameter of 4 in, wall thicknesses of 0.1 in
and 0.2 in, and bend angles (201) of 30", 60",75" and 90".
The tube diameter was governed by consideration of
oven space and the 0.1-in thickness was chosen as the
1 0.2
45
12
I
1
45
10
I, 3 7 f / 309 '
10
15
7
Vo25 No 4 1963
306 B. S. OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON

minimum practicable for machining purposes. The solenoid valve. The air receiver was initially primed to
0.2 in thick models were tested to indicate the effect of the required pressure, after which electrodes were brought
wall thickness to pipe diameter ratio. An in-plane bending into positions in close proximity to the mercury meniscus
test was carried out on a model with a mean diameter of in each limb of the manometer. A rise in pressure, caused
4 in, wall thickness 0.1 in, and bend angle (2a) 30". by the initial heating of the specimen during the 'stress-
freezing' cycle, resulted in the mercury contacting the
Construction of models appropriate electrode which energized an electrical relay
bringing into operation the solenoid valve and thereby
The models were made of Araldite CT200, using 30
releasing air from the system. After a predetermined time
parts of hardener to 100 parts of resin. The models were
interval, the solenoid valve was closed by the action of a
cured at 110°C for 16 h, and then cooled to room tempera-
micro-switch operated by a motor-driven cam, unless the
ture at 13 degC/h. The moulds for casting the pipes were
mercury was still in contact with the electrode, in which
steel cylinders in which were inserted thin cylindrical,
case the operation was repeated. A fall in pressure, caused
slightly tapered cores made of cold-cure silicone rubber,
by air leakage or cooling of the specimen, brought the
reinforced with a wrapping of surgical bandage, the shape
pump into operation by a similar sequence of events. It
of the core during the curing process being maintained
was found possible to maintain the pressure constant to
by a split thin steel liner. The pipes were turned and bored
within a maximum tolerance of f0.01 in of mercury.
on a lathe and an accuracy of better than f l per cent
When testing, each specimen was placed in an oven
was achieved with pipes of a wall thickness of 0.1 in and
with the plane containing both axes of the pipes horizontal,
a mean diameter of 4 in. In order to minimize end effects,
so that the specimen could be supported along its whole
the ends of the pipes remote from the intersection were
length, to minimize the effects of self-weight, the under-
closed with hemispherical caps, the pressure connection
side of the specimen being coated with silicone grease to
being made to one of the caps.
permit movement under load (Fig. 3). Pressure was applied
The mitring and slicing was carried out on a bench
to the inside of the specimen through a flexible silicone
surface grinder fitted with an 8-in diameter, -&-in thick
rubber pipe and was maintained to an accuracy of f1 per
diamond-impregnated cutting wheel.
cent. The temperature of the oven was raised t o 135"C,
Some of the slices were further machined on a surface
maintained at this value for 2 h and then reduced at a rate
grinder using a fairly coarse grit wheel in order to pro-
of 2 degC/h to 16°C when the specimen was removed for
duce a better surface or a thinner slice. Neither of these
slicing.
machining operations was found to produce any measur-
I n the case of the specimen subjected to an in-plane
able stress in the slices.
bending moment, the load was applied by using a cali-
The pipes and end caps were cemented together with
brated opposed-piston device in conjunction with the
cold curing Araldite MY.753 using special vee-blocks.
pressure-compensating device described above. The axes
The cement was allowed to cure until it had attained a
of the opposed pistons were 2 in apart, thereby enabling
putty-like consistency after which the surplus cement was
a pure couple to be produced by the application of air
scraped from the inside and outside surfaces of the pipes
pressure to the pistons (Fig. 4). The opposed pistons had
to produce a sharp joint.
knife-edged ends which applied the bending moment to
the specimen through a circular rod which was free to
Method of testing rotate or translate in a special linear-motion ball-bearing
The dimensions of the eight bends tested are shown in
Fig. 2. The pipe lengths were reduced for the tests with
0.2 in wall thickness since results for the thinner pipes
showed that the stress distribution was sensibly uniform
at a distance of 2 in from the intersection. The internal
pressures used were estimated to give maximum stresses
of about 40 lb/in2, and varied from 0.5 lb/in2 to 2 lb/in2.
These pressures were kept as low as possible, consistent
with accurate measurement of fringe order, to reduce
distortion of the model. (A uniaxial stress of 40 lb/in2
produced a direct strain of 0.019 in Araldite CT.200 under
frozen-stress conditions.) T o avoid variations of pressure
over the interior of the model, air was used for applying
the internal pressure.
The air pressure was applied to the specimen from an
air receiver, which was connected to a low-pressure pump
and a solenoid-operated valve. The pressure was measured
using a mercury manometer, which was also used as a
mercury switch to control the operation of the pump and Fig. 3. Pressurized model in oven
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 ELASTIC STRESSES IN SINGLE MITRED BENDS 301

remote from the intersection were examined in a universal

measuring machine and the radial distances of the inside
and outside surfaces from the centre of the slice were
measured in each case. The radial displacements due to
load were calculated from these measurements. The distor-
tion of the bend using lines scribed on the outer surface of
the pipes at 0 = 90" was measured using an Archdale
milling machine fitted with a microscope attachment.

Measurement of fringe stress coefficient and

Fig. 4. Opposed-piston device for applying bending load
to model
bush fitted into the end cap of the specimen. This
linear-motion bush prevented an axial load or torsional
couple being applied to the specimen in addition to the
required in-plane bending moment. With the exception
of the method of applying the load, the test procedure
for this specimen was as described above for the internal
pressure tests.
Cutting and examination of slices
The slicing diagram is shown in Fig. 5. Slice 1 in the plane
of the intersection was cut with half of its thickness in
each leg of the bend, to minimize the chamfer effect at
its edges. The longitudinal slices 2 and 3 therefore extend
only to within 0.09 in of the intersection. Thus longitudinal
stresses at the intersection have to be measured by the
method of oblique incidence, which entails some loss of
accuracy. Slice 4 is normal to the axis of the tube and is
used for calibration of the material. The groups of slices
5 and 6 are cut normal to the axis of the tube and as close
together as possible, adjacent slices being separated by a
distance equal to the thickness of the cutting wheel.
The slices were examined in a conventional polariscope
using a travelling microscope. Fringe orders were measured
using the Sknarmont method.
Elliptical slices at the intersection and normal slices
3 (14)on the elliptical slice using an angle of 45" inclination.
Fig. 5. Position of slices
JOURNAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
Young's modulus
The value of the fringe stress coefficient was obtained
from a circumferential slice at a section midway between
the intersection and the end closure (slice 4), where the
state of stress was found to be unaffected by these dis-
continuities. Measurements of fringe order were made at
points along a radial line and radial and circumferential
stresses determined by step-by-step integration. The
fringe coefficient was estimated by equating the radial
stress at the inside surface of the pipe to the applied
internal pressure. A value of 1.28 lb/in2 per fringe per
inch thickness was obtained, the maximum variation
from one specimen to another being f1 per cent.
The effective Young's modulus was estimated from
slice 4 by measuring the longitudinal stress at this point
and using the previously determined values of circum-
ferential stress, radial stress, and circumferential strain,
at the inner surface of the slice. A value of 2100 lb/in2 was
obtained, the maximum variation from one specimen to
another being f 2 per cent.
For computing the theoretical stresses a value of 0.5
was used for Poisson's ratio (12).
Analysis of slices
The elliptical slice at the intersection (slice 1, 0.020 in
thick) was viewed normally and values of the circumferen-
tial principal stress in the plane of the slice were obtained
assuming a linear variation of radial stress through the
depth of the slice.
In the earlier tests, separate principal stresses were
obtained using the shear difference method (13). The
value of the radial stress at mid wall was indistinguishable
from one half of the applied pressure.
The inclination of the circumferential stress at mid wall
to the middle surface of the pipe was also measured.
The principal stress normal to the plane of the inter-
section was obtained by oblique incidence measurements
All the above measurements were made at angular
intervals (measured on a normal section) of 15" from
o = 00 to e = 1800.
The longitudinal slices at the inner and outer stations
of the circumference (slices 2 and 3) were viewed normally
to obtain the variation of the longitudinal principal stress
along the axis of the pipe, the radial stress at the mid wall
again being assumed equal to one-half of the applied
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308 B. S. OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON
internal pressure. The inclination of the principal stress
at mid wall to the middle surface of the pipe wall was also
determined. The variation of circumferential stress along
the axis of the pipe was also found for the same stations
from a series of normal slices (slices 5 and 6).
Accuracy of experimental results
The experimental values of stresses given in this paper
are subject to three main sources of error, namely, the
presence of extraneous thermal and machining stresses in
the slices, the variation in stress through the thickness of
the slice, and the accuracy of measurements of fringe order.
The components comprising the specimens tested were
examined in the polariscope at various stages of manu-
facture to ensure that thermal and machining stresses
were maintained at a low order of magnitude. To estimate
the actual level of these undesirable stresses, the end
sections of the pipes removed during the mitring process
were subject to the same heat treatment as the correspond-
ing mitred bend. Slices cut from these end sections showed
that the order of stress present was equivalent to -j per
cent of the maxihum stress occurring in the test specimen.
To ensure that the effect of variation in stress through
the thickness of the slices cut from the test specimens
was negligible, slices were made 0.02 in thick and the mid
position through the slice thickness was taken as the physi-
cal location of points under examination. It should be
noted that thinner slices could have been made, but this
would have reduced the fringe level in the slices to an
order where the accuracy of fringe measurements would
have been adversely affected.
The errors involved in measurements of fringe order
in the slices using the SCnarmont method of compensa-
tion depended largely on the location of the point under
consideration and the definition of the fringe at this
point. In the region of the maximum stress the fringe
measurement accuracy corresponded to f l per cent at
points away from the edges of the slice and f 2 - j per cent
at points on the edges.
In view of the above and other considerations, such as
inaccuracies in applying loads, it is expected that the aver-
age overall accuracy of the maximum stresses will be of
the order of 5 per cent for all the bends tested. This overall
percentage error clearly depends on the relative magnitude
of the various sources of error compared with the magni-
tude of the stress at the point under consideration in the
bend, and will therefore be somewhat greater in the case
of stresses measured at points away from the point of
maximum stress.
In the case of the displacement or distortion measure-
ments, the accuracy with which the distortion of the joint
section was measured was of the order of f 4 per cent,
whereas the accuracy of measurement of the overall
distortion of the bend along the axis of 0 = 90" was not
greater than about f 2 0 per cent and can therefore only
be regarded as an indication of the trend of this distortion
effect.
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DISCUSSION O F EXPERIMENTAL
RESULTS
The comparison of experimental results with theory may
conveniently be divided into three parts. The assump-
tions of small pipe-wall thickness to radius ratio @/a)and
small mitre angle (a) are reasonably well satisfied by the
test specimen for which h = 0.1 in, a = 2 in, a = 15".
The first part of this discussion therefore considers in
detail the results for this specimen, and provides an
assessment of the theory for conditions where it might
reasonably be expected to apply. The second part con-
siders the specimens for which h = 0.2 in, a = 2 in,
a = 15" in order to examine the effect of increased thick-
ness for a given small mitre angle. Finally in the third
part is discussed the effect of increasing the mitre angle
(to values a = 30°, 37+", and 45") for values of h of 0.1 in
and 0.2 in.
Small angle bend of thin-walled piping (h = 0.1 in,
ci = 15')
The results are presented in Figs 6-8. Examination of
Fig. 6a giving the variation of hoop principal stress
around the section of the join shows that the agreement
between theoretical and experimental results is good. The
hoop principal stress at the section of join (6 = 0), on the
outside surface of the pipe ( p = l), at the inside of the
bend (0 = 0), shown on this graph, is the maximum stress
occurring in the bend. The theoretical value for this
maximum stress is some 9 per cent higher than the
measured value. This discrepancy is some 4 per cent
higher than can be accounted for by experimental in-
accuracies and is attributed to the approximations in the
theoretical analysis.
The theoretical and experimental distributions for the
normal principal stress around the section of join given
in Fig. 6b are similar in form, but exhibit considerable
discrepancies in the region of 8 = 0" and 8 = 180".
At these points the experimental distribution of normal
stress through the pipe wall is non-linear and the measured
stress at the outer and inner surfaces of the pipe wall
(p = 1 and p = -1, respectively) is appreciably smaller
than the theoretical. Two factors which contribute to this
effect are as follows:
(1) At 0 = 0" and 0 = 180°, because of the mitre,
the normal principal stress must be zero for p = 1 and
-p for p = -1 (Appendix 11) owing to three-dimen-
sional effects which it is impossible to introduce into
the theoretical analysis. The fact that these stresses
were measured as 24p and -4p at 0 = 0",and -7p and
26p at 0 = 180°, respectively, is attributed to the experi-
mental difficulty of measuring stresses at a chamfered
edge of a thin slice using the method of oblique inci-
dence. Stresses of this order of magnitude clearly occur
just below the surfaces of the pipe wall at this point,
which indicates that the variation of normal principal
stress through the pipe wall is extremely rapid in the
vicinity of the inside and outside surfaces of the pipe.
V o l 5 No 4 1963
 ELASTIC STRESSES IN SINGLE MITRED BENDS 309

effect in which the neutral axis moves towards the inside

of the bend, the stress distribution becoming non-linear
with a peak stress at the inner fibre. The variation of
longitudinal stress through the tube wall at the joint is
similar to that occurring in this simple two-dimen-
sional analogy. This effect clearly becomes more pro-
nounced as the mitre angle is increased.

As a result of these effects it appears that the longi-

tudinal bending stresses in the tube wall at the joint are
less than the theoretical values.
The variation of hoop principal stress along the axes
0 = 0" and 8 = 180" is shown in Fig. 7a and b. (When
plotting the stress variations along the pipes the length
measurement used, [, gives the distance of the point
under consideration from the section of join.) The
measured stresses are in excellent agreement with the
e -degrees theory in magnitude, rate of decay of amplitude, and wave-
a Hoop principal stress variation around section of join. length of fluctuation. For 8 = 0", however, the point at
which the bending component of stress changes sign is
approximately 16 per cent nearer the section of join than
is predicted theoretically. This is discussed in the section
dealing with the effect of increasing mitre angle. For the
moment we observe that the theoretical distribution of
longitudinal bending moments in the tube wall is modified
in the region of 0 = O", as has already been stated in
factor (2) above. It is of interest to note that the hoop
principal stresses attain the constant value p a / h at a
distance from the joint of only one-third of a pipe dia-
meter.
The variation of longitudinal principal stress, at
6' = 0" and 180", given in Fig. 7c and d, shows good
agreement with the theory in respect of wavelength of
fluctuation but the magnitude of the bending stresses is
less than that predicted theoretically at all points of the
pipe. This is consistent with the reduced values of the
B-degrees longitudinal stresses at the section of join which are dis-
cussed above. As in the case of the hoop principal stresses,
b Normal principal stress variation around section of join.
the longitudinal principal stresses reach a constant value
Experimental Theoretical equal to the value occurring in a long closed thin-walled
A p = l p = l circular cylindrical pipe subject to internal pressure p ,
0 p=o --- p=o
p=-l ------ p = -1 at a distance from the joint of only one-third of the dia-
a = 15", h = 0.1in, a = 2 in, pressure loading. meter of the pipe. This is contrary to the predictions of
the theory of van der Neut ( 5 ) and suggests that his theory
Fig. 6 is not applicable to the case under consideration.
The directions of the principal stresses on the middle
(2) A partial explanation of the non-linearity of the surface are given in Fig. 8a. For the hoop principal stress
stress distribution through the tube wall is suggested around the middle surface of the section of join, no
as follows. The longitudinal principal stress, which is measurable inclination was observed. The inclination of
normal to the plane of join at the joint, changes direc- the longitudinal stress on the middle surface at 0 = 0"
tion rapidly to become parallel to the pipe axis within a and 0 = 180" is seen to change from a direction normal
distance of one-sixth of the pipe diameter from the to the plane of join (6 = 0) to a longitudinal direction,
join (Fig. 8a). A thin longitudinal slice from the axis of within a distance of only one-sixth of a pipe diameter.
8 = 0" containing the join at its mid point, is in the The approximations made to obtain the theoretical analysis
form of a cranked beam (slice 3 extended through the given in Appendix I make it impossible to predict these
joint). The neutral axis for longitudinal bending of such directions.
a beam must bend round so as to become normal to The distortion of the middle surface of the section of
the plane of join. This corresponds to a curved-beam join, and of the bend along the axis of 8 = go", are shown
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310 B. S. OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON

-in f - in

u Hoop principal stress variation along axis of 0 = 0". b Hoop principal stress variation along axis of 0 = 180".

0 0.25 0.50 0.E 1.00 1-25 1.50 1-75 2.00

L-in 5 -in
c Longitudinal principal stress variation along axis of 0 = 0". d Longitudinal principal stress variation along axis of 0 = 180".
Experimental Theoretical
A p = l p = l
1 o = o
; n = O
0 p=-1 __-_-_ p = -I
a = 2 in, h = 0.1 in, a = 15', pressure loading.
Fig. 7

in Fig. 8b and c. The theoretical and experimental results
for the distortion of the section of join are seen to be in
good agreement, as might have been expected in view of
the close correspondence of theoretical and experimental
stresses. For the distortion of the bend along the axis of
B = go", no theoretical values can be obtained as the
analysis provides an edge solution from which the dis-
placements remote from the joint cannot be predicted.
The experimental results show a slight opening out of the
joint. As stated previously, these measurements are of
low accuracy and should be regarded as qualitative only.
Fig. 9a and b and are compared with those for h = 0.1 in,
a = 15", discussed in the previous section. The agreement
is less good for the bend with 0.2 in wall thickness, the
maximum measured hoop principal stress at the section
of join (at 8 = 0 ') being 11-12 per cent less than the
theoretical value. Curves for h = 0.2 in corresponding
to Figs 7 and 8 for h = 0.1in are not presented, since the
difference in degree of agreement between theory and
experiment for the two values of h is very small, and
indicates that for these values of h the thickness effect is
not important.

Effect of wall thickness for the small angle bend Effect of increasing the mitre angle
Values of hoop and normal principal stresses at the The effect of increasing the mitre angle is now discussed
section of join for h = 0-2 in, a = 15", are shown in for the models for which h = 0.1 in. The most significant
JOURNAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE VolS No 4 1963

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 ELASTIC STRESSES IN SINGLE MITRED BENDS 31 1

e = 1800

PLANE
JOIN OF /T*\

PIPES AT SECTION OF
JOIN
9-00

g 10
tm
al
U

I 5
P

0
0 01 0 2 0 3 0 4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0 0 1
t - in I- in

SCALE OF MIDDLE SURFACE

= FULL SIZE
SCALE OF OISPLACEMENTS - In
I._._I._..I
0 0.05 0.10

+
F-5

&PLANE OF
.JOIN

C 0
-
SCALE OF DISPLACEMENTS

001 0.02
- in

a Inclination of mid-wall longitudinal principal stress (&, +,) b Distortion of section of j in.
along pipe. - - - - - - Theoretical d! placements.
o Measured inclinations. o Measured dis] acements.
c Distortion along ( 0 = 90') axis of pipes.
o Measured displacements.
a = 2 in, h = 0.1 in, a = 15", pressure loading.
Fig. 8
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312 B. S. OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON
e - degrees
a Hoop principal stress variation around section of join.
a = 2 in, h = 0.2 in,
Experimental
A p = l
r) p = O
p=-l
Fig. 9
variations can be seen in Figs 10-15*. Three main trends
are observed.
(1) As the mitre angle increases the distribution of
hoop principal stress in the plane of the joint through
the pipe wall (Fig. 10) becomes non-linear and the
discrepancy between theoretical and experimental
results increases. For values of a > 30" (Fig. 10b and c)
a hoop bending stress is observed in the vicinity of
B = 60" to 0 = 75", which is not predicted by the
theory. At the same time, the hoop bending stress at
0 = 0", which is the position of maximum stress, is
reduced, and in fact changes sign for values of 01
greater than about 373". The variation of hoop prin-
cipal stress at 0 = 0, with a, is shown in Fig. lla.
(2) The variation of hoop principal stress along the
axes of 0 = 0" and 0 = 180" (Figs 12 and 13) continues
to show good agreement with the theory in respect of
decay of amplitude, and wavelength of fluctuation.
Along the axis of 0 = 0", however, it is observed that
for values of a up to about 37+", the position of the first
point at which the hoop bending stress changes sign,
moves towards the section of join as CL is increased, and
for values of a greater than 373", this first change-over
point vanishes. (Along the axis of 0 = 180", this effect
is considerably less marked. The change-over point is
less well defined, and the movement in its position is
much smaller.)
(3) The measured distortion of the middle surface of
the section of join (Fig. 14) shows increasing divergence
* In view of the large number of graphs, some of the curues for
u = 374" have been omitred.
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8 - degrees
b Normal principal stress variation around section of join.
u = 15', pressure loading.
Theoretical
p = l
p = o
______ p = -1
from the predictions of the theory as a is increased.
Large deflections develop in the region 0 = 60" to
0 = 75", forming a 'bulge' in the deflected shape. The
position of the bulge coincides with the region in which
the large hoop bending stresses mentioned under trend
(1) above occur. The inclination + E of the hoop prin-
cipal stress at the middle surface to the tangent to the
middle surface has its greatest values in the region
0 = 70" to 8 = 100" as shown by Fig. 15. The magni-
tudes of + E in this region increase as a is increased,
The three trends described above are quite consistent.
The large deflections at 0 = 60" to 0 = 75", which are
not predicted by the theory, relieve the hoop bending
stress at 0 = 0" at the section of join and produce a large
hoop bending stress at 0 = 60" to 0 = 75". This redistri-
bution of hoop bending stress entails the movement of
the position of the change-over as described in trend (2)
above.
It should be noted that the hoop stresses for a = 15"
are approximately asymmetrical about the ordinate
through 8 = 90" and the axis of zero stress. Theory
predicts that this asymmetry should persist for all values
of a. It is seen (Fig. 10) that with the development of the
bulge as a approaches 30", this asymmetry is lost and
the distributions of hoop stress for 90" < 0 < 180" are
greatly dissimilar in form to those for 0 < B < 90". In
the discussion, interest centres on the region 0 < B < 90"
since it is in this range that the highest stresses are found.
Curves for the normal principal stress variation around
the section of join, and for the longitudinal principal stress
variation along the axes 0 = 0 and 0 = 180" are not shown
V o l 5 No 4 1963
 ELASTIC STRESSES IN SINGLE MITRED BENDS 313

8-degrees 8-degrees
a Hoop principal stress variation around section of join (a = 30 ). b Hoop principal stress variation around section of join (a = 37t").

-3'0m
-
-4.0

5.0
0 15 30 45 60 75
e - degrees
90 105 120 135 150 165 180

c Hoop principal stress variation around section of join (a = 45").

a = 2 in, h = 0.1 in, pressure loading.
Experimental Theoretical
$. p = l p = l
p = o p = o
FJ p=-l ------ p = -1

Fig. 10
JOURNAL M E C H A N I C A L E N G I N E E R I N G S C I E N C E Vo15 No 4 1963

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 n H O O P PRINCIPAL STRESS, palh
W W
-0 v
/

I' HOOP PRINCIPAL STRESS (B-0'1, po/h

-. w g 0,ql
0
0
r0 o u

c z
c
HOOP PRINCIPAL STRESS, p a / h

HOOP PRINCIPAL STRESS (O-Oo).po/h

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A

R
 ELASTIC STRESSES IN SINGLE MITRED BENDS
5 l5
9
w- 1.0
ln
W
K
I-
ln
-I
2 0
V
-z
K
a
8-1 0
0 025 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50
-in
a Hoop principal stress variation along axis of B = 180" ( a = 30').
a = 2 in, h = 0.1 in, pressure loading.
Experimental
for a = 30", 373", and 45" since they exhibit little signi-
ficant difference in form from those for a = 15".
As in the case of the small angle bend, the hoop principal
stress and the longitudinal principal stress attain the values
for a long thin-walled circular cylindrical pipe with closed
ends, within one-third of a pipe diameter of the section
of join, for all the models tested. This is again contrary
to the predictions of the theory of van der Neut (5). The
curves giving the variation of inclination of longitudinal
principal stress at mid wall show little variation with a.
The measurements of bend distortion, as in the case of
the small angle bend, show a slight opening out of the
bend. The measured'values for a = 45" are shown in
Fig. 16, values for a = 30" and a = 373" being inter-
mediate between these values and those for CL = 15".
Effect of wall thickness
The correspondence between theory and experiment for
models with h = 0.2 in differs little from that shown by
results for the models of the same mitre angle with
h = 0.1 in, and as in the case of the small angle bend, the
conclusion reached is that for these values of h, the thick-
ness effect is small, as is predicted by theory.
Variation of maximum stress with mitre angle
For all values of a, the maximum stress is a hoop principal
stress in the section of join at 0 = 0".The theoretical and
experimental values of the hoop principal stress at this
station for h = 0.1 in and h = 0-2in are shown at the
inside mid wall, and outside of the pipe, for various values
of in Fig. 1la and b. Theory predicts that this maximum
C(
stress occurs at 0 = 0" on the outside of the pipe for all
values of CL.Experiment shows that the position of maxi-
mum stress, while remaining at 0 = O", changes from the
outside surface of the pipe to the inside surface of the
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315
0 0.25 0.50 075 1.00 125 1.50 1.75 2.00
1.75 2.00
t - in
b Hoop principal stress variation along axis of 0 = 180" (a = 45').
Theoretical
n p = l p = l
p = o p = o
______
-I
0 p=-l p = -1
Fig. 13
pipe when u is about 374", the position of the change-over
being slightly different for the O.l-in and 0.2-in wall
thickness of pipe. The magnitude of the maximum stress
falls increasingly below the theoretical value as u is in-
creased, and for values of a between 30" and 45",is close
to the theoretical stress at the mid wall of the pipe (the
so-called 'membrane' stress).
Effect of variations in the value of Poisson's ratio
Since the experimental results were obtained with a
material for which Poisson's ratio was constant at 0.5,the
effect of varying Poisson's ratio can only be assessed by
consideration of the theory. The largest stresses are the
circumferential stresses, uo, at the intrados at the section
of join (5 = 0, 0 = 0) and are given by equation (40) in
Appendix I. For a = 15", a = 2 in, h = 0-1 in, the maxi-
mum theoretical value of uo is at the outer surface and is
2*465p(a/h)for v = 0-5 and 2.09p(a/h) for v = 0.25, a
difference of some 15 per cent. For a = 45", a = 2 in,
h = 0.1 in, experiment indicates that the bending stresses
are small, and the calculated membrane stresses only are
compared. These have the values 3*74p(u/h)for Y = 0.5
and 3-91p(a/h) for Y = 0.25, a difference of 4.5 per cent.
It thus appears that in applying the experimental results
to mitred bends made of a material with a value of
Poisson's ratio differing from 0.5, some allowance should
be made for the difference.
BENDING RESULTS
Figures 17-19 show the experimental results.
Examination of these curves shows that the theory of
Green and Emmerson (I) is unsatisfactory for the mitred
joint loaded by a bending moment. Fig. 18, giving the
variation of hoop and longitudinal stress along the length
of the pipe, indicates that the experimental values contain
Vol5 No 4 1963
316 B. S . OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON

SCALE OF MIDDLE SURFACE

= F U L L SIZE
SCALE O F DISPLACEMENTS - In
CI...l....l
a 0 0.05 0.10

S C A L E O F MIDDLE SURFACE
=FULL SIZE

a = 2 in, h = 0.1 in, pressure loading.

-
SCALE OF DISPLACEMENTS

0 0.05 0.10
- in

- - - - - - Theoretical displacements.
0 Measured displacements.
a Distortion of section of join (a = 30").
b Distortion of section of join (a = 45").
Fig. 14

10
n
u s
$ 0
0
1-5
.-
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180
P
- 10
0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150 165 180
e-degrees B-degrees
a For a = 30". b For a = 45".
a = 2 in, h = 0.1 in, pressure loading; $E is defined in Fig. 8a.
0 Measured inclinations.
Fig. 15. Inclination of mid-wall hoop principal stress (43
around section of join
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 NORMAL PRINCIPAL STRESS, M / n a 2 h
HOOP ,PRINCIPAL STRESS. M/rra2h
,

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318 B. S. OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON

0 l.0 2-0 3.0 4.0 50 6-0 65

(-in
b Longitudinal principal stress variation along axis of 0 = 0".

c
I-in
Hoop principal stress variation along axis of 0 = 180".
7IEkkH
5
9
-30

-40 0 10 2.0 3.0

t in-
4.0 5.0 kO 6 5

d Longitudinal principal stress variation along axis of 0 = 180'.

a = 2 in, h = 0.1 in, a = 15", bending load.
Experimental Theoretical
L p = l p = l
L p = o p = o
c, p = - 1 ------ p = -1

Fig. 18

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 ELASTIC STRESSES I N SINGLE MITRED BENDS 319

elements of an edge solution of short wavelength, which
dies away to negligible values close to the join. The magni-
tudes of these stresses, however, are clearly very much less
than those given by the theory. The distortion of the sec-
tion of join in Fig. 19 is similar to that which occurs in
curved thin-walled pipes subjected to bending moments.
The distribution of hoop bending stress at the join is also
similar to that obtained in the above situation. The per-
sistence of hoop and longitudinal bending moments in the
tube wall at stations remote from the joint suggests that
the larger part of the deformation of Fig. 19a varies com-
paratively slowly along the length of the pipe and that the

e = 90°
I

SCALE OF M I D D L E SURFACES S C A L E OF D I S P L A C E M E N T S - i n
= F U L L SIZE a
l
r l
ll l .l
lll
0 0.1 0.2

'5,

OF

15 15

*
a
*
&
a
10 ;
m
10
V
I P
0
D I
- 5 2 5

0 0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0 4 0.5 0.6 C 7
E-in c C-in

a = 2 in, h = 0.1 in, a = 15", bending load.

a Distortion of section of join.
- - - _ _ Theoretical
- displacements.
o Measured displacements.
b Distortion along (0 = 90") axis of pipes.
o Measured displacements.
c Inclination of mid-wall longitudinal principal stress (&,,, +,J along pipe.
o Measured inclinations.
Fig. 19
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320 B. S. OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON
linear distribution of longitudinal bending stress given by
simple theory is not attained until a considerable distance
from the section of join. Any solution which is to corres-
pond with the experimental distributions must clearly
contain a distortion pattern of the type indicated above.
Inspection of Fig. 17b giving the variation of normal
principal stress around the section of join might suggest
that the experimental stresses could not conceivably have
a moment about the line 0 = 90"equal to that given by the
theoretical stresses, this moment being equal to the applied
moment. It should be remembered, however, that the
distribution of stress through the tube wall is not linear
as assumed in the theory, and the values shown are there-
fore not inconsistent with the applied loading.
CONCLUSIONS
Pressure loading
The experimental results indicate that the theory of (I)
satisfactorily predicts the stresses in a thin-walled mitred
bend loaded by internal pressure, provided that the angle
of bend a is small, with the exception of certain local
effects in the region of the intrados and extrados (6' = 0"
and 6' = 180°), which modify the longitudinal stresses at
the joint. The maximum stress in the bend is the circum-
ferential stress in the plane of the intersection at the outer
surface of the wall at 6' = 0".
As OL is increased, measured stresses diverge from those
predicted by the theory. The maximum stress continues
to be a circumferential stress at 6' = 0", the magnitudes
of the circumferential stresses at 6' = 0" being shown in
Fig. 11. The measured circumferential bending stresses,
however, decrease as OL increases becoming zero when OL is
approximately 37". In addition the distribution of stress
through the tube wall becomes non-linear and large defor-
mations occur at the joint in the region 0 = 60" to
6' = 75". For OL = 45" the measured circumferential
bending stresses are relatively small, but have reversed in
sign, so that maximum stress occurs at the inside of the
pipe wall.
For all values of a, the mean circumferential stress in
the pipe wall is close to the theoretical value and, for
values of a > 30", gives a fair approximation to the
maximum stress in the bend.
For all the bends tested the longitudinal stresses attain
the constant value +p(a/h) within a short distance of the
section of join. This is in accord with the theory of Green
and Emmerson (I) and is contrary to the predictions of
the theory of van der Neut ( 5 ) .
It is to be expected that the measure of agreement shown
between the theoretical predictions and the experimental
results will also apply in the case of steel bends provided
that due allowance is made for the different value of
Poisson's ratio.
Bending moment loading
The experimental results for the one bend tested indicate
that the theory of (I) is unsatisfactory for this type of
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loading. Distortions of the pipe occur which are similar
to those occurring in curved thin-walled pipes subjected
to bending moments in the plane of curvature. It is possible
that a suitably modified form of the analysis of von
Khrmhn (15) might approximate more closely to the
observed results.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to express their gratitude to Professor
A. F. Burstall, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at
King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne (now the University
of Newcastle upon Tyne), and Director of the Stephenson
Engineering Laboratories, who provided the facilities
necessary for the experimental work to be carried out.
They are also grateful to Dr C . E. Turner of the Imperial
College of Science and Technology, London, who first
directed their attention to the problem.
APPENDIX I
THEORETICAL A N A L Y S I S OF T H E STRESSES I N M I T R E D
J O I N T S S U B J E C T E D TO A U N I F O R M I N T E R N A L P R E S S U R E
The solution of the problem of stresses in circular cylindrical
pipes containing a mitred bend given by Green and E m e r s o n (I)
was obtained by using the equations of three-dimensional elasticity
and applying an extension of the method of Johnson and Reissner
(6). This method is based on the selection of suitable non-dimen-
sional co-ordinates, stresses and displacements, suggested by
consideration of known solutions for particular problems. In view
of the fact that this method of approach is of recent origin, it is
considered of value to obtain the results of Green and E m e r s o n
by using the normal cylindrical shell equations such as are given
in Timoshenko (16).
We consider two long straight pipes of circular section and
constant wall thickness which are mitred and joined over the
entire mitred section of each pipe to form a mitred bend. The angle
of inclination of the plane of join to normal sections of either pipe
is a, (0 < a < s/2),(Fig. 20). It is assumed that the ratio of wall
thickness h to mean radius of tube wall a is small, and that the
mitred bend is subjected to a symmetrical loading system due to
the application of an internal pressure p. We apply the normal
cylindrical shell equations to the problem of a long straight
circular cylindrical pipe which has a mitred end section, and by
applying suitable end conditions over this section we can solve
the problem of a pipe with a mitred bend to a first order approxima-
tion in 1 (hla).
Choose co-ordinates z, 0, as shown in Fig. 20, and take u, v, w,
to be the displacements of the mid-wall surface of the pipe measured
in the axial, tangential and radial (inwards) directions respectively.
The basic shell equations to be satisfied are
We seek a solution to equations (1) for the case in which the
mitred section is unstiffened. The boundary conditions to be
satisfied at the plane of join, z = a cos 0 tan a, are therefore:
(1) The component of displacement at mid-wall measured
normal to the plane of join is zero, i.e.
u cos a+(w cos O+v sin 0) sin a = 0
VolS No 4 1963
 ELASTIC STRESSES I N SINGLE MITRED BENDS 32 1

On applying the operators (3) to the basic shell equations (1)

and assuming displacements of the form given in equations (4),
the resulting differential equations can be integrated and are found
to provide a completely satisfactory solution for the problem of
the long closed cylinder under uniform internal pressure when the
joint section ( 6 = 0) is clamped. This solution is equivalent to
that given by Kornecki (2). When the boundary conditions at the
joint section correspond to those for a pipe with a n unstiffened
mitred joint (see conditions (I), (2), (3) above) it is not possible
to obtain a solution. This is evident from an examination of
equations (6), integration of which shows that the displacements
u, v are of order z / ( h / a )compared to w, and are therefore neglected
to the first approximation in .t/(h/a). Thus, satisfaction of the
displacement condition (1) above, makes w = 0 in the plane of
join, and thereby forces all the displacements in the plane of join
to be zero to this order approximation. We have therefore auto-
matically imposed the conditions for perfect clamping. In order to
obtain a solution to the problem of the unstiffened mitred bend, it
is necessary to follow Green and Emmerson (I) and assume that
tan a is of the order z/(h/u). That is, we obtain a solution which
applies in the case where angle a is small.
It is convenient to continue the analysis in two sections. The
first giving the solution in the case of the perfectly clamped mitred
bend which applies for arbitrary angle a and is equivalent to
that obtained by Kornecki (2). T h e second giving the solution for
the unstiffened mitred bend for angle a assumed small, which is
equivalent to that obtained by Green and Emmerson (I).

Solution for clumped joint (a arbitrary)

Applying the operators (3) to the basic shell equations (1) and
assuming displacements of the form given in equations (4), we
obtain to a first order approximation in d ( h / u )
7-- $(l+l--vsin2etan2a
2 1
I + u a2v
+--sinetana
2 352 7
Fig. 20. Unstifiened mitred joint

(2) Sections through the pipe wall in the plane of join undergo
no rotation in planes normal to the plane of join.
(3) Shearing stresses in the pipe wall in the plane of join are
zero.
We make a change of variable in terms of a non-dimensional
co-ordinate 6, measured in an axial direction from the plane of join.
Thus,
z = a(f+cos Btana) .
. . . (2)
Y
Bu
atsin 0 tan a-w-
-+r
@f
-h2
122
(1+sin2 0 tan2 a)2 -
at4
a4w
pu2( 1 -u 2 )
I
hE
Equations (1) are transformed in terms of by applying the
operators Integrating the first two of equations (5) with respect to and
a l a a a sin
. etan a+;iea solving for &/a[ and &/at in terms of w we have
-=--
az aat' G o = -a t
. . (3) au
- u-sin2 0 tan2 a
Indiscriminate application of the operators (3) to the basic shell a t = (1 +sin2 e tan2
equations (1) would result in an extremely complex set of differen- av sin 0 tan a(u+2+sin2 0 tan2 a)
tial equations. In order to simplify the resulting differential equa- (1 +sin2 e tan2 a)' J
tions to a form amenable to solution, it is necessary to assume the where A, and B1 are functions of 0 only.
form of the solution for the displacements u, v, w. The assumed Using equations (6) the third of equations (5)is simplified to give
form is based on that usually associated with this type of edge
solution when applied to a cylindrical shell problem. We are a4w
- 12a2
therefore led to put +
a f r 4ki"W = h2(1+sin2 6' tan2 a)2
= v euJ(oih): , e tan .-pa ( 1 - 2 )
= u eeJ(o/h)C = W euJ(olh)l
where U,V,W, p are functions of 0 only, and p may contain real
(4)
where
~ B , + A sin
7 1 (7)
and imaginary terms. By assuming displacements of this form, it
should be noted that differentiation of the displacements u, v , w 12u2(1-P)
4k14 =
with respect to 5 involves multiplication by a factor p d ( u / h ) .Thus h2(l+sin2 0 tan2 a)" ' * .
lower differentials with respect to 8 may be neglected in comparison Since A, and B , are functions of 0 and independent of 5 we
with higher differentials, when applying the operators (3) to the can integrate equation (7) in the form
basic shell equations (1).
(Differentiation with respect to 0 introduces a factor d ( u / h ) f = e - k . C (K1cosklf+L1sink,f)+ (1 +sin2 0 tan2 a)2
(l-u2)
(ap/ae) which, however, may be neglected since the solution we
require is effectively an edge solution and as such implies that 5
is small.)
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322 B. S. OWEN AND W. C . EMMERSON
if we omit the positive real exponential which tends to infinity Pa c sin2 0 tan2 a
with 1.
As mentioned previously, equations (6) indicate that u and w are
= z +sin2 e tan2 e - k.c(cosklt+sin klf)
t 2ck12(1+ u sin2 e t a n 2 a)
of order z/(h/a) compared with w and thus the boundary condition --U 1 -v2 e-k,F(cosklC-sin kll)]
(1) reduces to
C
w=o . . . . . . (10) 2(1 +sin2 0 tan2 a)’
e k,c(coskl1 +sin k, 1)

at the plane of join 1 = 0. --t ck12(u+sin2 e tan2 a) e-k.c(cos klt-sin K,D]

The boundary condition (2) implies that U 1- u 2
aw -
_
a1 - 0 . . . . . . (11)
T ~ =
g @ [
c sin 0 tan a
2h (1 +sin2 0 tan2 a)2 e-k,c(cosklC+sin k l f )

for 1 = 0. ? 2ckI2sin 0 tan a

_ -a l+u e-k,t(cos klf-sin k,f)]
Applying the boundary conditions of equations (10) and (11)
to equation (9) yields where k, is obtained from equation (8).
K1 = L, = (1 +sin2 0 tan2 a)2
1-2
yy) uB1--Al sin 0 tan a
1
This reduces to
-pa c sin2 0 tan2 a
5 - Z [ l - (1 +sin2 0 tan2 a ) 2
. .(12) *

The stresses in a circular cylindrical shell as given by shell

theory are
-_ t 2ckI2(1+ U sin2 0 tan2 a )
a 1-2 1
0
--p a [ l - C
2(1 +sin2 0 tan2 a)2
-_ t ck12(u+sin2 e tan2 a )
pac sin 0 tan a 1
U 1 -uz 1
T:e = 2h [F+sinz 8 tan2 a)2

in the plane of join 1 = 0.

These expressions for the stresses are the same as those obtained
by Kornecki (2).
Applying the operators (3) to equations (13) and neglecting
second order terms we have Solution for unstiffened joint ( a small)
Following Green and Emmerson (I) we assume that tan a and
\/(h/a) are of the same order. Therefore equations (5) are modified
when applying the operators (3), since a/ao is comparable with
+-at 7
a2w
a1
(1 + u sin” 0 tan2 a) tan a(a/ag). Thus to a first order approximation in .\/(h/a) we
neglect terms involving tan2 a, and the basic shell equations (1)
us = - [”sin e tan a-w+v -a1au
a(i--2) a t
reduce to

+-at 7
a2w
a1
(u+sin2 0 tan2 a)
1 + u a2u
-- i + u a2u i-ua2w
a f 2 sin 0 tan a+- - 2 a f a e + T P
--aw
af sin 0 tan a-- aw = 0
ae
Using equations (6), (9) and (12), the boundary conditions
given by equations (10) and (ll), and applying the conditions that Inspection of the first two of equations (21) indicates that the
as 1 becomes large ue -+ pa/2h, utl -+ pu/h, rc0-+ 0, we find from relative orders of magnitude of w, u and w are 1, z/(h/u) and h/a
equations (14) that respectively. Therefore, to a first approximation in 1 (h/a) the
3-u+2(1 -v) sin” 0 tana a 7 first of equations (21) gives
= sin e tan a
(I +sin2 0 tan2 a)2 I
- pa2(1+v) 1 - v - 2 ~ sin2 0 tan2 a t (15)
1 -- I
2hE (1 +sin2 0 tan2 a)” where B, is a function of 0 (i,e. to this order approximation terms
and in w are neglected).
Substituting equation (22) in the third of equations (21) we
1- u02 tan2 a) [vB1+A1 sin 0 tan
(1 +sin2
22)1
(
obtain

--
- pa’ [2--v+(l -v) sin’ 0 tan2 a] (16)
2hE
Substituting equations (12) and (16) in equation (9) we have
w = -- Pa2 c [l-e-k,s(cos klf+sin klf)] . (17)
2hE Since B2 is a function of 0 and independent of f we can integrate
equation (23) in the form
where
v B ~ pa2
c = 2-u+(1-2u) sin2 0 tan2 a .
. (18) w = e-”Zc(K2 cos k,f+L, sin k2f)+---
1-2 h E (25)
Applying equations (6), (15), (17) and (18) to equations (14) we if we omit the positive real exponential which tends to infinity
see that the stresses in planes ( = constant are given by with 6.
JOURNAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE Vo; 5 No 4 1963

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 ELASTIC STRESSES I N SINGLE MITRED BENDS 323

The boundary condition ( 2 ) for this analysis is the same as that The shear loads per unit length are given by
given by equation ( 1 1 ) of the clamped solution. Thus using
equation ( 1 l ) , we find from equation (25) that
. . . . . (26) - 1
and
Kz=Lz --
2Q’ -
-
iie 2f
2Q sin 0 tan a+Ne-pa
at 1 (33)
w = K 2 e-k2e(cosk2t+sin k 2 . $ ) V + BL - - pa2
1-V’ hE . (27)
Substitution of equation (26) and (27) in equation (22) and where D is a function of 8.
integration with respect to 6 yield Choose co-ordinates x and y at the plane of join as shown in
Fig. 21, and consider a small triangular element in the pipe wall
at 0 bounded by the plane of join, and planes 0 = constant through
where C is a function of 8. point A and z = constant through point B. Then
T o a first approximation in z / ( h / a ) the second of equations (21)
is integrated with respect to t to give
sin 4 fi sin 0 tan a
cos 4 fi 1
1)
. . . . (34)
- =(2+v)wsinOtana---+j$df+A2
2v I+v& (29) The forces per unit length in AB in the x, y and z directions are
at i - v 2e given by
F, = Ne sin 4 cos e+N,, cos 4 cos 0
where A 2 is a function of 8.
Applying the operators ( 3 ) to equations (13) and neglecting
second order terms we have
-Qe sin 4 sin 0-Qe cos 4 sin 0
F, = NO sin 4 sin e+Nce sin 0 cos # (35)
1
+Qesin+sinO+QccosQcos 0

I
F, = Ntesin ++Necos 4 J
Using equations (32), (33), (34) and (35) and applying the
boundary condition ( 3 ) we have
F, = 0 = p a sin 0 cos 8 tan a+-
Eh
K 2 sin 0
1
ak9

Using equations (26), (27), (28) and (29) and applying the F , cos a-F, sin a = 0 = cos a Ipa sin2 0 tan a
condition that as 5 becomes large, a( + pa/2hy ae + pa/h, 7.y + 0,
~

we find from equations (30) that

in the plane of join t = 0.

Both of equations (36) are satisfied if D = 0, and can be solved
to yield
pa2 k
The value of C can be found in terms of K2 from the boundary
K, = - --cos
Eh 2
Otana . . . (37)
condition ( l ) , but is not required here. Substituting from equations (31) and (37) in equation (27) we
We are now required to apply the boundary condition (3) in order find
to determine the value of K 2 .Thus it is necessary to determine the Pa2 [ 2 - v + k 2 cos f3 tan a e-k2c(cos k2f+sin k2f)]
shear load per unit length in the plane of join = 0. w = -- (38)
2hE
Using equations (26), (27), (28), (29), (30) and (31) the loads Using equations (26), (28), (29), (30), (31) and (38) we find that
per unit length are the stresses in planes 6 = constant are given by
+ hi2
No =j-h,2 u6 dt = pa--
Eh
K2 e-kZE(cosk2f+sin k,t)
N. = s_’h’2 dr = Pa
-
0:
-sin k2t)l
hi2 2
pa [
(39)
Nt8 = i-
+ hi2
hi2
dt
rZe = K , e-L2e(cosk2t+sin k2t) ae =
h
+k2 cos 0 tan a e - *2C(cos k2f +sin k,t)
2
Eh 2Kz t kZ3
x sin 0 tan a- - -e-kzkos k2(]
ak2 df3
+ V --
al-v2
cos 0 tan a e-kzc(cosk2t-sin k2f)]

ENLARGED V I E W IN DIRECTION
NORMAL TO PLANE O F A B C

Fig. 21. Resolution of forces at intersection plane

JOURNAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE Vol 5 No 4 1963

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324 B. S. OWEN AND W. C. EMMERSON
I

where kz is obtained from equation (24). A P P E N D I X I11

This reduces to REFERENCES
0; =$[1+2;. t (I) GREEN,A. E. and EMMERSON, W. C. ‘Stresses in a pipe
with a discontinuous bend‘, 3. Mech. Phys. Solids 1961
9, 91.
(2)KORNECKI, A. ‘State of stress in a thin-walled tube rigidly
in the plane of join 5 = 0. fixed to an oblique cross-section’ (in Polish), Rozpr.
These stresses are the same as those obtained by Green and Znzynierski 1957 5 , 119.
Emmerson (I). T h e stresses T~~ are of smaller order of magnitude (3) GOL’DENVEIZER, A. L. Theory of elastic thin shells (in
than u; and ug and may be neglected. Russian 1953) translated by G . Herrmann 1961 (Per-
gamon Press, Oxford).
A P P E N D I X I1 (4)TURNER, C. E. Contribution to discussion of (9).
(5) NEUT,A. VAN DER ‘Bending at the oblique end section of
NORMAL STRESSES AT e o
= AND e = n AT THE cylindrical shells’, Proc. Symp. Theory of Thin Elastic
I N N E R A N D O U T E R S U R F A C E S A T THE P L A N E O F JOIN Shells 1960, 247 (North Holland Publishing Co.,
Consider a small triangular element ABC of unit thickness (small) Amsterdam).
lying in the tube wall whose mid plane is the plane 0 = 0, and (6) JOHNSON, M. W. and REISSNER, E. ‘On the foundations of
with AB lying in the plane of join, BC parallel to the tube axis the theory of thin elasric shells’,3. Math. Phys. 1959 31,
and AC lying along a radius. The stresses acting parallel to the 371.
plane 0 = 0 are as shown in Fig. 22, the components T ~ T ~: ~ ,,and (7) LANE, P. R. H. and ROSE,R. T. ‘Experiments on prefabri-
the shear stress component on AB being zero by considerations of cated pipe bends’, Brit. Welding Res. Assoc. Rep., 1960.
symmetry. (8) MACFARLANE, D. S. ‘Fatigue strength of gussetted pipe
A t p = l a n d p = -1 bends’, Brit. Welding Res. Assoc. Rep., 1961.
T,* =0 (9) MACKENZIE, A. C. and BEATTIE, I. M. ‘Right-angled corner
This implies that in large-diameter pressure ducting’, Proc. Symp. Pressure
uz = UZ8 = ur Vessel Research towards Better Design 1962, 114.
And we have (10) GROSS, N. and FORD, H. ‘Flexibility of short-radius pipe
u,=O at p = l bends’, Proc. Znstn mech. Engrs, Lond. 1952-53 lB, 480.
u,= - p at p = - 1 (11) MARKL, A. R. C. ‘Fatigue tests of welding elbows and com-
Thus the normal stress at 0 = 0 or 0 = 71, at the plane of join parable double-mitred bends’, Trans. Amer. SOC.mech.
f = 0 is zero for p = 1 and - p for p = - 1 . Engrs 1947 69, 869.
(12) FESSLER, H. and LEWIN,B. H. ‘A study of large strains and
the effect of different values of Poisson’s ratio’, Brit. J.
appl. Phys. 1960 11, 273.
(13) FROCHT, M. M. and GUERNSEY, R. jun. ‘Studies in three-
dimensional photoelasticity’, Proc. First U.S. nut. Congr.
appl. Mech. 1952, 301.
(14) DRUCKER, D. C. ‘Photoelastic separation of principal
stresses by oblique incidence’, 3. appl. Mech. 1943 10,
A.156.
(15) KhRMAN, T. VON ‘On the deformation of thin-walled pipes
especially of elastic expansion pipes’ (in German), Z . Ver.
dtsch. Zng. 1911 55, 1889.
PLANE OF JOIN
(16)TIMOSHENKO, S. and WOINOWSKY-KRIEGER, S. Theory of
plates and shells second edition 1959 (McGraw-Hill
Fig. 22. Normal stresses a t plane of join Book Co., New York).

IOURNAL MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE VOl5 No 4 .

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