Simplified piping analysis methods for piping with inelastic supports

The use of an energy absorbing supports (EAS) such as the x-plate (1) has been demonstrated to reduce piping response loadings significantly. However, due to yielding nature of the device, response behavior of the piping system is non-linear. A response spectrum analysis, as normally would apply to a typical piping system, may no longer be conservative. A time history analysis may be necessary, which can be very costly in terms of computer time and data handling. In order to reduce the computation effort to enhance the merit of considering inelastic supports in piping design and analysis, a simplified analysis method needs to be developed. This method has to be able to predict the inelastic system response conservatively and within reasonable bounds.