Stress Distribution Analysis and Optimal Design of Plugs for Long Distance Pipelines Based on ANSYS Workbench

The plug's 3D model was established to analyze stress distribution based on ANSYS Workbench software.The result shows that plug's maximum stress can be 212MPa at the welding point between support frame and shaft sleeve under a 6.4MPa operation pressure;and selecting steel materials with yield strength to be Q345 and above and with a 1.5 safety factor and a 230MPa allowable stress can meet the strength requirements along with a small margin.Considering unevenness of the plug's structure,4 optimal schemes were proposed;and optimizing support frame's opening can reduce plug weight without increasing maximum stress growth.