Addressing Gusset Problems: Pipe Cracking Part 3

By Del Underwood at Det Norske Veritas. This article appears in the May/June 1996 issue of Inspectioneering Journal.

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Gussets

Gussets, sometimes known as gusset plates, are metal sheets of various thicknesses used for either joining two or more components together or strengthening joints. These components include beams, girders, truss members, chords, and columns. They can also be used to retrofit...
Mechanical Integrity (MI)

Mechanical Integrity (MI) can be defined as the management of critical process equipment to ensure it is designed and installed correctly, and that it operates and is maintained properly (i.e. no leaks and all elements are fit for service). A mechanical integrity program should...
Piping

In every processing facility, you have feedstock and product that need to get from point A to point B. Piping is the vehicle that moves these liquids and gasses through a refinery or chemical processing plant. They can be made of steel, cast iron, copper, plastic, or...
Process Equipment

Much of the equipment used in the refining and processing industries is known as Process Equipment. Most pieces of process equipment are designed to perform specific, singular tasks. Process equipment can be used for tasks as varied as storage, controlling flow, and...
Welding

Welding is the process of joining separate materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, using extreme heat. Welding is an ancient trade that has been around for thousands of years, and it is one of the most important and widely used manufacturing processes in the...

This article is part 1 of a 3-part series.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

This final issue on gusset problems will discuss why gussets are "stiffeners" rather than "strengtheners". The effective load bearing capacity of a member of given strength is based upon how large a cross-sectional area is carrying the load. Gussets are commonly welded to tubular members to reduce their flexure under a bending load. The lift bar shown in Figure 1, at the right serves to illustrate this principal.

A tube, when used in a structural application where bending loads are encountered, behaves like a wide flange beam. As shown in Figure 2, the top and bottom portions of the circular cross section for the flanges, while the side portions take the place of the web. The neutral axis is through the center of the tube.

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About the Authors

Del Underwood at Det Norske Veritas

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