Protecting People and the EnvironmentUNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
SSINS No.: 6835
IN 83-31
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
May 19, 1983
Information Notice No. NO 83-31: ERROR IN THE ADLPIPE COMPUTER PROGRAM
Addressees:
All nuclear power reactor facilities holding an operating license (OL) or
construction permit (CP), nuclear steam system (NSS) suppliers, and
architect-engineers (AEs).
Purpose:
This information notice is provided as a notification of an error in the
ADLPIPE computer program used for piping analyses. Although DIS/ADLPIPE,
Inc. has informed their known users, all potential users of the ADLPIPE
computer program may not have received the information.
Description of Circumstances:
A recent inspection of DIS/ADLPIPE, Inc. was conducted by NRC Region IV in
response to a potential 10 CFR Part 21 report to Region IV by Burns and Roe,
Inc., that identified an error in the computer code ADLPIPE. The inspection
disclosed that DIS/ADLPIPE, Inc. had notified only one user of the code,
Burns and Roe. DIS/ADLPIPE verified that the error existed and provided a
method of obtaining corrected data. During the inspection DIS/ADLPIPE, Inc.
sent a letter of notification to the rest of the known users.
According to the DIS/ADLPIPE, Inc. letter, the error involves the stress
calculation at reduced outlet tee connections where the computer program
option for the 1972 Winter Addenda to the ASME Code for Class 2 components
is used. The error was introduced in the May 1974 version of ADLPIPE and was
contained in all subsequent versions. The DIS/ADLPIPE, Inc. letter stated
that the error affects only calculations performed using the Class 2
component option for the 1972 version of the ASME Code and does not affect
calculations performed using the options for the 1974 and 1977 editions of
the Code. Based upon this application, the error is not expected to affect
reactor coolant system pressure boundary components.
The error in the computer program involved the use of the run pipe section
modulus for calculating stresses at the branch pipe termination. For the
case of reduced outlet tee connections, this causes the stress to be
underestimated at the branch side with the magnitude depending on the ratio
of run pipe to branch pipe section modulus.
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IN 83-31
May 19, 1983
Page 2 of 2
The error can be corrected by a simple hand calculation which multiplies the
computer program calculated moment stress at the branch pipe side by the
ratio of the run pipe section modulus divided by the branch pipe section
modulus. (The section modulus could be calculated in accordance with Section
NC-3652.4 of the 1972 Winter Addenda to Section III of the ASME Code.)
It is suggested that holders of operating licenses or construction permits
review this information for applicability to ASME Code piping analyses at
their facilities.
No written response to this notice is required. If you have any questions
regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator of the
appropriate NRC Regional Office, or this office.
Edward L. Jordan, Director
Division of Emergency Preparedness
and Engineering Response
Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Technical Contact: J. R. Fair, IE
301-492-4509
Attachment:
List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices
.