How to Setup a Sliding Plate

Sliding plates are special items that are designed to significantly reduce the friction coefficient in pipe supports. As a result, they lower the values of load caused by the horizontal displacement of pipes or equipment, reducing stress and improving the functionality of the associated resting supports.

They are usually installed between the pipe or equipment and the structure or floor. The main sliding plate is based on the use of PTFE for temperatures below 150ºC or bronze-graphite for temperatures over that range or when loads or ambient conditions are more severe, or because of its higher longevity.

The PTFE or bronze-graphite component is permanently fixed to a carbon steel base that is designed to be welded to the supporting structure or embedded plate.

Basic Setup

Before proceeding, check Understanding Support Datasheet topic for a better knowledge on information architecture.

Step 1: Enter basic data

• First of all, select ‘Sliding Plate‘ on ‘Type of Support’ combo box.
• Define ‘Single/Double Type’ configuration (if double, select how you will enter loads on ‘Load Calculations’ field, by support or spring).

Advanced Setup

Choosing the material

Two materials, in flat and spherical geometries:

The check is on admissibility, not capacity: below the limit no temperature reduction is applied to the load. Above it, the material is simply not used.

If no operating temperature has been entered, both materials are treated as admissible. On anything above ambient, enter it.

Selection by load

The software takes the smallest plate in the series whose capacity covers the operating load.

The catalogue capacities follow from a constant allowable contact pressure over the smaller of the two sliding faces. Graphite-bronze accepts three times the pressure PTFE does, which is why its series reaches much higher loads in comparable sizes.

Minimum bottom elevation

The plate occupies height between the pipe and its support, so the bottom elevation has to accommodate it. The software checks this and warns if the elevation defined is insufficient.

Spherical variants need considerably more height than flat ones — worth checking early if headroom is tight.

If no bottom elevation has been defined, the check is not performed.

Combination with a clamp base

Not every plate is compatible with every clamp base. The software filters the plates available for the base you have selected.

See How to Setup a Clamp Base.

Hydrostatic test

Not checked.

Deviation angle

Not applicable. The software sets it to zero.