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Pipe Moment of Inertia Calculator

Calculate Moment of Inertia, Radius of Gyration, and Area for Pipes and Hollow Tubes. Includes ANSI/ASME Schedule 40/80 database.

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Category Engineering Calculators
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About

In process piping and tubular structural design, determining the rigidity of a pipe section is critical for span analysis and support spacing. This tool specifically targets circular hollow sections (CHS). Unlike generic geometric calculators, this application addresses the specific constraints of pipe engineering, such as standard manufacturing schedules (ANSI/ASME B36.10M).

Incorrect inertia values in piping stress analysis can lead to sagging lines, liquid pockets, or failure under thermal expansion loads. This calculator derives the exact area moment of inertia (I), cross-sectional area, and radius of gyration (k), which is essential for column buckling calculations. It provides built-in error checking to ensure the inner diameter never physically exceeds the outer diameter.

pipe design moment of inertia hollow section structural tubing schedule 40

Formulas

The calculation is based on the concentric subtraction of the inner circle's inertia from the outer circle's inertia.

Inet = Iouter βˆ’ Iinner

Where Wall Thickness (t) relates to diameters as:

d = D βˆ’ 2t

Reference Data

PropertyFormulaDescription
Moment of Inertia (I)Ο€(D4 βˆ’ d4)64Resistance to bending. D=OD, d=ID.
Section Modulus (S)Ο€(D4 βˆ’ d4)32DResistance to max stress at outer fiber.
Radius of Gyration (k)√I/A = √D2 + d24Used in slenderness ratio for buckling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pipe is generally identified by a Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) and Schedule (wall thickness), which are rough indications. Tube is specified by exact Outer Diameter (OD) and Wall Thickness. This tool handles both if dimensions are known.
Yes. Moment of Inertia is a geometric property independent of material. Whether the pipe is PVC, Copper, or Steel, the "I" value remains the same for the same dimensions. Stiffness (EI) would change based on the material's Modulus of Elasticity.