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Tutorial 4 — Libraries, Specs and Two Conditions in One Model

Goal: a model with a hot process line (CL600, 10.2 MPa @ 200 °C) teeing into a cooler utility line (CL150, 1.0 MPa @ 60 °C), each checked against its own conditions — plus reusable personal libraries.

1. Build the sections & materials once

  1. Library tab: create DN100 SCH 80 (catalogue pick) and DN50 SCH 40.
  2. Create the material (A106 B-type carbon steel).
  3. On each, click Save to My Library in the Library Bar — next project, you'll just Load them.

2. Create two specifications

Specs tab:

  • Spec Process CL600: Design Pressure 10.2, Design Temperature 200, T_install 21, Cycles 7000.
  • Spec Utility CL150: Design Pressure 1.0, Design Temperature 60.
  • Save both to your personal library too.

Fields left blank inherit the global Settings — set the global values as your dominant case and use specs for the exceptions, or spec everything explicitly.

3. Route the two lines

  1. Anchor at origin; route the DN100 process line: dX 8, tee node, dX 8, anchor.
  2. From the tee node route the DN50 branch dY 4, anchor its end. Configure the tee component (Welding tee, auto-SIF).

4. Assign specs fast

Open the Grid Editor (⊞) — Elements tab:

  • The Specification column: set the two run elements to Process CL600 and the branch element(s) to Utility CL150 straight in the grid.
  • Sanity-check Section/Material columns at the same time.

(Alternative: Assign → Bulk Assignselect by section grabs all DN50 elements in one click, then apply Specification.)

5. Prove it worked

Run All Cases, then open Pipe Stresses: the DN100 rows are judged against allowables at 200 °C conditions and the 10.2 MPa hoop check; the DN50 rows against 60 °C / 1.0 MPa. Click an element → Inspector shows which spec it carries.

The PDF's Global Design Parameters + per-element tables record everything for the reviewer.

PCF users

PCF import creates specs automatically from the file's PIPING-SPEC and flange class — this tutorial's manual workflow is what you use to review/complete them.