Effect of curved bar properties on bending of curved pipes

A general solution is presented for in-plane bending of a thin-walled short-radius curved pipe. The problem is solved considering the properties of a curved bar-an actual radius of curvature of longitudinal fibers and the neutral line displacement. The theory, is developed using minimization of the total energy. The relationships of the theory of elastic thin shells are used. The obtained results for the strains and stresses in curved short-radius pipe bends are compared with published theoretical and experimental data. The properties of a curved bar being taken into account enable to correct seriously the distribution and peak values of the strains which take place in curved pipes of large curvature subjected to bending.