CASE
2278
CASES OF ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE
Approval Date: May 20, 1998
See Numeric Index for expiration
and any reaffirmation dates.
Case 2278
Alternative Method for Calculating Maximum
Allowable Stresses Based on a Factor of 3.5 on
Tensile Strength
Section II and Section VIII, Division 1
Inquiry: New maximum allowable stresses for Section
VIII, Division 1 construction, based on a factor of 3.5 on
tensile strength among the criteria used in establishing
maximum allowable stresses, are under development
for incorporation in Section II, Part D. While those
new maximum allowable stresses are being developed,
may alternative rules be used to implement the use of
maximum allowable stresses based on a factor of 3.5
on tensile strength among the other criteria used to
establish such stresses for Section VIII, Division 1
construction?
Reply: It is the opinion of the Committee that maximum
allowable stresses other than those listed in Section II,
Part D, Tables 1A and 1B may be used in Section
VIII, Division 1 construction, provided the following
requirements are met.
(a) The materials shall be limited to those listed in
Tables UCS-23, UHA-23, UHT-23, ULT-23, UNF-23.1,
UNF-23.2, UNF-23.3, UNF-23.4, and UNF-23.5 of
Section VIII, Division 1.
(b) The maximum temperature to which the alterna-
tive maximum allowable stresses may be used, for
materials listed as applicable for Section VIII, Division
1 construction in Tables 1A and 1B of Section II, Part
D, are the lesser of the temperatures listed in Tables
1A and 1B of Section II, Part D or those listed in
Table 1.
(c) For the maximum allowable stresses at 100F or
colder temperatures, the materials shall be limited to
those for which minimum tensile strength and yield
strength values are listed in Table 1A or 1B of Section
II, Part D. For materials listed in Table ULT-23, the
alternative maximum allowable stresses shall be limited
to the temperature range of 0F to 100F.
(d) For design temperatures warmer than 100F (up
to the temperatures listed in Table 1), the materials
shall be limited to those for which values are listed
in both Tables U and Y-1, of Section II, Part D.
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TABLE 1
Material Category Max. Temperature, F
Carbon steels of nominal composition C, C-
Si, C-Mn, and C-Mn-Si listed in Table 1A
of Section II, Part D, and Tables UCS-23
and UHT-23 of Section VIII, Division 1 650
All other materials listed in Table 1A of
Section II, Part D and Tables UCS-23 and
UHT-23 of Section VIII, Division 1 700
Austenitic materials listed in Table 1A of
Section II, Part D and in Table UHA-23 of
Section VIII, Division 1; and materials
listed in Table 1B of Section II, Part D and
in Table UNF-23.3 of Section VIII,
Division 1 800
Aluminum and aluminum alloys listed in
Table 1B of Section II, Part D and in
Table UNF-23.1 of Section VIII, Division 1 300
Copper and copper alloys listed in Table 1B
of Section II, Part D and in Table UNF-
23.2 of Section VIII, Division 1 150
Titanium and zirconium and their alloys
listed in Table 1B of Section II, Part D and
in Tables UNF-23.4 and 23.5 of Section
VIII, Division 1 600
(e) For Low Temperature Operation in accordance
with UCS-65, Fig. 1 of this Case shall be used in
place of Fig. UCS-66.1. In addition, the coincident
Ratio 0.4 in UG-136(b)(3), UCS-66(b)(3), UCS-68(a),
UCS-68(b), and UHA-51(g) shall be taken as 0.35.
Likewise, the 212 factor in UHT-5(c) shall be taken
as 2.86.
(f) The maximum allowable stress values shall be
the lowest of the following:
(1) 1/3.5 of the specified minimum tensile strength
at room temperature (20F to 100F);
(2) 1/3.5 of the tensile strength value listed in
Table U of Section II, Part D at the design temperature;
(3) 2/3 of the specified minimum yield strength
at room temperature (20F to 100F); and
(4) 2/3 of the yield strength value listed in Table
Y-1 of Section II, Part D at the design temperature,
 CASE (continued)

2278
CASES OF ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE

GENERAL NOTES: (Note references to General Notes of Fig. UCS-66.2)

tr p required thickness of the component under consideration in the corroded condition for
all applicable loadings [General Note (2)], based on the applicable joint efficiency E
[General Note (3)], in.
tn p nominal thickness of the component under consideration before corrosion allowance is
deducted, in.
c p corrosion allowance, in.
E* p as defined in General Note (3)
Alternative Ratio p S*E* divided by the product of the maximum allowable stress
value from Table 1 times E, where S* is the applied general pri-
mary membrane tensile stress and E and E* are as defined in
General Note (3).

FIG. 1 REDUCTION IN MINIMUM DESIGN METAL TEMPERATURE WITHOUT IMPACT TESTING

330

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CASES OF ASME BOILER AND PRESSURE VESSEL CODE
or for austenitic materials listed in Table UHA-23 and
for materials listed in Table UNF-23.3, and only where
slightly higher deformation is not in itself objectionable,
90% of the yield strength value listed in Table Y-1
of Section II, Part D.
(g) The calculated stress values for welded tube and
pipe products shall be multiplied by 0.85.
(h) All other requirements of Section II-D (notes,
external pressure chart, etc.) shall apply.
(i) The maximum allowable stress values obtained
from this Case are not recommended for the flanges
of gasketed joints or other applications where slight
distortion can cause leakage or malfunction.
(j) The 112 test factor requirement
UG-99, UG-101(c), Code Case 2046 and Code Case
2055-1 shall be reduced to 1.3 times, and the 1.25 test
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CASE (continued)
2278
factor requirement in UG-100 shall be reduced to 1.1
times.
(k) All other requirements of Section VIII, Division
1 shall apply.
(l) Values shall be calculated at the discrete tempera-
tures for which tensile and yield strength values are
provided in Tables U and Y-1 of Section II, Part D.
Such values shall be rounded to the nearest 0.1 ksi
with values of X.X5 and above rounded up. Values
for intermediate temperatures shall be determined by
linear interpolation.
(m) This Case number and an itemized list of the
components for which it applies shall be shown on
the data report. This itemized list shall include the
in name of the component, the material designation, the
calculated allowable stress and corresponding temper-
ature.
331
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