As a student at Liverpool John Moores University I am currently engaged on a 
project with a company to derive Stress Intensification Factors (SIFs) as 
per the ASME piping codes B31.3 / B31.1 for branch pipe outlets from finite 
element analysis results.

My approach would be to find the maximum von Mises stress and then divide 
this by a nominal stress - based on the load type of interest – to arrive at 
an Effective Stress Factor (ESF). This figure would then be divided by 2 to 
arrive at a SIF.

I have found papers by Denis K Williams using this method to arrive at a SIF 
based on FE results and am fairly confident that this is the way forward. 
However, I would feel better about this if I could locate more references 
that endorsed this approach!

Can anybody point me in the direction of articles or references regarding 
the derivation of SIFs from finite element analysis of piping components? Or 
does/has anybody out there used this method for deriving SIFs for pipe 
joints?

Any help or information on this would be gratefully received.

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