Mechanical APDL offers a group of commands that enable you to model piping systems and their loads in terms of conventional piping input data, instead of in terms of standard direct-generation modeling operations. As you input piping commands, the program internally converts your piping data to direct-generation model data, then stores the converted information in the database. After this information is stored, you can list it, display it, modify it, redefine it, etc., using any of the standard direct-generation commands.

The piping system modeling methods described here apply to straight-pipe PIPE16 and curved-pipe PIPE18 elements. (Both elements are described in Part III: Archived Elements.)