TRIFLEX® Windows 2.5.2
July 16, 2004

Enhancements

1. Fatigue Analysis – Occasional loads, including wind, static equivalent static loading, response spectrum, and time history dynamic loading have been incorporated into TRIFLEX®Windows fatigue analysis functionality.

2. Transparent Component Graphics – Pipes, Anchors, Elbows, Joints, and Reducers may be displayed in a user-defined shade of transparency in order to observe any detail they may be obscuring should they be drawn opaque. This is especially useful in designing jacketed piping, vessels with multiple nozzles, and other complex shapes.

3. Jacketed Piping Core Support – An option has been added to the Release Element component dialog that will allow the release element to model a spider support in jacketed piping. In order for the type to be selected, the from and to nodes of the release element must specify the coincident ends of two previously defined components from which inside diameter and outside diameter of the piping can be obtained. If this type of release element is selected, an axially free, transversely rigid release element is drawn from the outside diameter of the inner pipe to the inside diameter of the outside pipe.

4. Adjustable Axis Initial Location – An option has been added to the Axis Properties Dialog callable from the Main Menu/Setup/Graphic Preferences Menu/Axis Properties menu item which allows the adjustable axis to be initially positioned when toggled on at the Global Origin (0,0,0), at the piping system geometric center, or at the last position the axis was in before it was toggled off.

5. Abbreviated Code Compliance Report – The Main Menu/Output menu has been modified by adding an additional option that displays the Code Compliance report only for selected components. Should no components be selected when the menu is brought down, or no code compliance output be available, the control is grayed out and is not accessible.

6. Data Point Order Column Added to Code Compliance Report – An extra column has been added to Code Compliance Report spreadsheets indicating the order of the data points. Should various columns be sorted in order to examine the data, this column can be used to return the spreadsheet to its original order. Previously, once a column had been sorted, there was no means returning to the original order other than refreshing the report.

7. Fatigue Component Name Category in Input Parameter Graphics – The name of the fatigue curve associated with a particular component is now shown graphically in the Input Parameter Graphics, Code Compliance Group, for the B31.1, B31.3, B31.4, B31.5, and B31.8 piping codes when Fatigue Analysis is selected in the Model Defaults Dialog.

8. Spring Hanger Attachment Movement – The restraint dialog has been modified to allow the entry of a movement of the spring attachment point along the axis of an existing spring hanger or support.

9. Anchor Skew Stiffness and Initial Movement – The ability to input anchor stiffness along directions other than the global X, Y, and Z coordinates has been added. Also initial movements may be specified along any set of coordinates, however, in order to do so, the anchor must be rigid in each of X, Y, and Z.

10. Dialog Specifying Longitudinal Direction – Since anchors and release elements are essentially single points with no inherent directional property, a dialog was added to aid in the specification of axial coordinates for use in defining an L-N-G axis system. The axial coordiate can be the default direction of the component used in its graphical representation, the direction between any of the nodes defined in the system, or any arbitrary vector.

11. Worksheet Comments Column – The Comments Column on the input spreadsheet has been activated, allowing the user to insert and save text comments, descriptions, or labels for each component.

Modifications

1. Conflict with Pipe Component Copy Feature and Undo – When the Pipe Component Copy feature was used and then, later, an Undo command was issued to reverse the procedure, the automatic node numbering algorithm would fail to synchronize, issuing spurious warning messages or, perhaps, causing a program crash. This issue has been addressed with this release.

2. Release Element Error Checking – No longer does the release element check for valid A, B, and C direction angles if the “Use X, Y, Z Coordinates” radio button is selected. This solves a problem that may appear when reading data files created by earlier versions into TRIFLEX®Windows.

3. Current Component Indicator – When adding components from the spreadsheet the current component indicator would fail to reset such that not only was the original current component indicated, but the newly added component as well. This false indicator has been fixed, such that the current component is set to the new component as intended.

4. Data Serialization in Version 2.5.1 – Due to a data serialization error with regard to fatigue curve definitions, occasionally input files created in previous versions and saved using Version 2.5.1 become unreadable. This current version corrects that problem and renders any files saved erroneously in version 2.5.1 readable.

5. Reducer Length Defaults – Reducer lengths now properly default to the value for standard butt weld reducers attached to the larger of the two connecting pipe diameters if ANSI pipe is used. Should non-standard or user defined pipe be used, and for diameters less than ¾ inch nominal, the reducer length defaults to the diameter of the larger pipe. This value should be reviewed by the user and modified on the reducer dialog as necessary.

6. Response Spectrum and Time History Availability – Under some circumstances the buttons on the main toolbar for Response Spectrum and Time History Analyses could remain active, even though the load case in which they were specified was no longer available. This could lead to a false indication in the dropdown load case selection menu along with possibly confusing output. This situation has been addressed and rectified.

7. Soil Loading Dialog – The Soil Load Dialog has been modified somewhat to clear up some confusion in the way in which it was used. The load coefficient field previously did not change if either data was not sufficient for its calculation or if the pipe was buried less than three diameters deep where the load coefficient was not needed or used in calculating the vertical load on the pipe. Now, if insufficient data is available, the field is set to blank. If there is sufficient data, but the value is unnecessary, it is set to “N/A”, not applicable. Further, the values for vertical load and stiffness are reset automatically if the user updates the pipe diameter or insulation thickness on the Pipe Properties dialog.

8. Reverse Ripple – When rippling various piping system parameters using the “Ripple to Component” setting and when the specified component number was less than the current component number (hence, a reverse ripple), the rippling would stop two components short of the selected component number. This error has been corrected.

9. Special Report Data Lists – The data lists indicating data for special report generation such as the Flange, API610, API617, NEMA, Rotating Equipment, as well as the node loading information within Time History, could become corrupted if components containing the defining nodes for the information were deleted. Occasionally, this could lead to a program malfunction, especially during the renumbering operation. Now, if a node defining a parameter for an item in one of these lists is removed through component deletion, the item is removed from the list.

10. B31.3 Code Compliance Dialog – The code compliance dialog for B31.3 as implemented in version 2.5.1 would list the default fatigue curves twice. This problem has been rectified such that now the B31.3 dialog is handled in the same manner as the other ASME B31.x dialogs.