This essential new volume provides background information, historical perspective, and expert commentary on the ASME B31.3 Code requirements for process piping design and construction. It provides the most complete coverage of the Code that is available today and is packed with additional information useful to those responsible for the design and mechanical integrity of process piping. The author is a long-serving member of the ASME B31.3, Process Piping Code committee. Dr. Becht explains the principal intentions of the Code, covering the content of each of the Code's chapters. Book inserts cover special topics such as calculation of refractory lined pipe wall temperature, spring design, design for vibration, welding processes, bonding processes and expansion joint pressure thrust..Appendices in th book include useful information for pressure design and flexibility analysis as well as guidelines for computer flexibility analysis and design of piping systems with expansion joints. From the new designer wanting to know how to size a pipe wall thickness or design a spring to the expert piping engineer wanting to understand some nuance or intent of the Code, everyone whose career involves process piping will find this to be a valuable reference.