FEM Stress Analysis and the Sealing Performance Evaluation in Bolted Flange Connections With Ring Joint Gasket Subjected to Internal Pressure: Effect of Scatter in Bolt Preloads

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Kondo ◽  
Shota Tsubaki ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Tsutomu Kikuchi ◽  
Yuya Omiya
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Leak Rate ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Torque Wrench ◽  
Helium Gas ◽  
Higher Temperature ◽  
Bolted Flange ◽  
Better Than ◽  
Good Agreement

Bolted flange connections with ring joint gaskets have been used to seal the inner fluid under higher internal pressure and higher temperature conditions where soft gaskets such as compressed sheet gaskets cannot be applied. Bolted flange connections are frequently tightened using torque wrench, and it is known that the values of bolt preloads are scattered. The effect of the scatter on the sealing performance for bolted flange connections with compressed sheet gasket or semi-metal gasket has been examined. However, no research on the characteristics for the bolted flange connections with ring joint gasket has been found. It is necessary to know the effect of the scattered bolt preloads on the sealing performance and mechanical behavior of the connection with ring joint gasket. In addition, it is important to know an optimum method for determining the bolt preloads taking account of the scatter in bolt preloads. In this paper, leakage tests for bolted flange connections with octagonal ring joint gaskets were conducted for cases where the bolt preloads are uniform and scattered. The sealing performance of these connections with ring joint gaskets was measured and evaluated. In addition, the leak rate was estimated using the contact gasket stress distributions of the connections when the bolt preloads were uniform and scattered using 3-D FEM. Finally, the measured leak rate for the connection using helium gas was compared with the estimated results. The estimated results are in fairly good agreement with the measured values. It is found that the sealing performance of the connections tightened with the uniform bolt methods is better than that with scattered bolt preloads.

FEM Stress Analysis and Sealing Performance Evaluation in Bolted Flange Connections With Metal Flat Gasket Subjected to Bending Moment and Internal Pressure

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Kondo ◽  
Yuya Omiya ◽  
Shota Tsubaki ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Plastic Deformation ◽  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Leak Rate ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Bolt Preload ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Higher Temperature ◽  
Contact Surfaces ◽  
Bolted Flange

Bolted flange connections with metal gasket have been used at higher pressure under higher temperature condition. Assembly procedures and tightening methods the connections including some types of metal gasket is empirically. Generally, it is known that the bolt preload which is required for satisfying an indicated leak rate in the connections including the metal gasket is not higher than that of the connections including sheet gaskets and spiral wound gaskets. However, no research for the evaluating the sealing performance in the bolted flange connections with metal gaskets has been conducted. In this paper, the leakage tests for the bolted flange connections with the metal flat gasket were conducted in the case where the maximum internal pressure of 7MPa and a bending moment are applied, where the leak rate is measured using the pressure drop method. Then, the sealing performance of the connections with the metal flat gasket was evaluated. In addition, using the FEM stress calculations, the flange stress distributions between the flange surface and the gasket were examined as the evaluation. As the result, it is found that the stress distribution at the contact surfaces between the metal flat gasket and the flange surface under the bending moment and the internal pressure. In the leakage tests, it was observed that the amount of the leakage (He gas) depends on the stress distributions and the plastic deformation of the gasket.

FEM Analysis and Evaluation of the Sealing Performance in Flexible Box-Shape Flanged Bolted Joints With Gaskets Subjected to Internal Pressure: Effect of the Bolt Pitch

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Ryo Kurosawa ◽  
Yasuaki Tatsumi
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Fem Analysis ◽  
Bolted Joints ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
The Finite Element Method ◽  
Analysis And Evaluation ◽  
Flange Connection ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Helium Gas ◽  
Bolted Flange

Bolted joints with gaskets such as non-circular flange connections have been widely used in mechanical structures, nuclear and chemical industry, and so on. They are usually used under internal pressure as well as other loadings such as thermal, impact loadings and so on. In designing the non-circular flange connections with gaskets, it is important to evaluate the sealing performance of the non-circular flange connections with gaskets subjected to internal pressure. An important issue is how to evaluate the sealing performance in the box-shape bolted flange connections by using the contact gasket stress distributions at the interfaces, how to reduce a number of bolt and nuts, that is, how to enlarge the bolt pitch, and how to determine the initial clamping bolt force (preload) by using the new gasket constants. In this paper, the stresses of box-shape flange connection with gaskets subjected to an internal pressure are analyzed using the finite element method (FEM), taking account a hysteresis in the stress-strain curves of the gasket. The contact gasket stress distributions when the internal pressure is applied to the connection are analyzed. The leakage tests were conducted using an actual box-shape flange connection with a gasket Using the contact gasket stress distributions at the interfaces under an internal pressure (Helium gas was used) and the amount of the leakage measured in the experiment, the sealing performances are evaluated experimentally and theoretically by changing the bolt pitch in the connections. Discussion is made on the effect of the bolt pitch on the sealing performance in the above connections.

Evaluation of the Sealing Performance in Bolted Flange Connection Under Heat Condition and Internal Pressure: The Effect of Scatter in Bolt Preloads

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Yoshio Takagi ◽  
Katsuhiro Yamada
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Torque Control ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Heat Condition ◽  
Flange Connection ◽  
Gas Leakage ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Torque Wrench ◽  
Bolted Flange

It has been well known that a scatter in axial bolt forces of pipe flange connections tightened by the torque control method is substantial. It is necessary for evaluating the sealing performance of the pipe flange connections with the gaskets subjected to internal pressure to know the contact gasket stress distributions due to the scatter of the axial bolt forces in the connections tightened by the torque control method. Especially, when gases are used in the pipe flange connections with gaskets at a high temperature, it is necessary to evaluate the amount of gas leakage. In this study, when bolts and nuts in a pipe flange connection were tightened using a torque wrench, the axial bolt forces were measured and then the amount of gas leakage in the pipe flange connection at 50,100,150 and 200 °C was measured under internal pressure. Leakage tests were performed using Helium gases. In addition, the thermal stress distributions at the interfaces between pipe flanges and the gasket under heat condition (temperature 50,100,150 and 200 °C) and internal pressure were calculated by using the finite element method (FEM) taking into account hysteresis in the stress-strain curves of a spiral wound gasket. By using the calculated contact stress distributions and the results of the leakage tests, the sealing performance was evaluated.

Effects of Scattered Bolt Preload on the Sealing Performance of Pipe Flange Connection With Gaskets Under External Bending Moment and Internal Pressure

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Yoshio Takagi ◽  
Koji Sato ◽  
Yuya Omiya ◽  
Hayato Doi
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Experimental Result ◽  
Chemical Plants ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Bolt Preload ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Torque Wrench ◽  
History Of ◽  
Good Agreement

Bolted pipe flange connections have been widely used in mechanical structures such as oil, chemical plants and so on. Sometimes leakage accidents occur from the connections. In assembling the pipe flange connections, the bolt preloads are scattered and then the connections are subjected to external bending moment due to earthquake as well as internal pressure. In the present paper, the changes in the axial bolt forces are measured in assembling. The bolts are tightened with torque wrench. Using the history of the bolt force changes, the gasket stress distributions on the connection with gaskets are analyzed using FEM. Then the gasket stress distributions on the connections under external bending moment and internal pressure are analyzed. Using the gasket stress distributions, the amount of leakage of the connections is estimated while the basic gasket characteristics have been measured according to JIS B 2251. The amount of leakage of the connection was measured for the various gasket stresses. The estimated results are in a fairly good agreement with the measured results. It is found that the effect of the scatter of bolt preload is substantial on the sealing performance of the connections. Discussion is made on the sealing characteristics of the connections. The change of axial bolt force obtained from experimental result and FEM result are fairly good agreement.

FEM Stress Analysis and the Sealing Performance Evaluation of Bolted Pipe Flange Connections With Large Nominal Diameter Subjected to Internal Pressure

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Muramatsu ◽  
Koji Sato ◽  
Maksud Uddin Khan ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Mechanical Characteristics ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
Leak Rate ◽  
Load Factor ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Nominal Diameter ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Good Agreement

The gasket fundamental characteristics such as the stress-strain curves of compressed sheet gaskets (CSG) and the spiral wound gaskets (SWG) and the relationship between the average gasket stress and the leak rate using rigid platens were measured. Then, using the measured data of the gasket properties, the mechanical characteristics of bolted pipe flange connections under internal pressure are examined such as the contact gasket stress distribution, hub stress and changes in axial bolt forces (the load factor) using FEM. FEM code employed is ABAQUS. Using the obtained gasket stress distributions and the fundamental gasket relationship between the gasket stress and the leak rate, the leak rates of bolted pipe flange connections are predicted. In addition, the effect of nominal diameters (from 2” to 24”) on the mechanical characteristics is examined. For verification of the FEM calculations, experiments to measure the load factor, the hub stress and the leak rates were performed using 2” and 24” bolted pipe flange connections. The FEM results of the load factor, the hub stress and the leak rate are in a fairly good agreement with the measured results. The value of the load factor is found to be positive for 2” pipe flanged joints, while it is negative for 24” pipe flanged connection due to the flange rotation. It is noticed that the values of the load factor decreases with an increase of the nominal diameter of pipe flanges. The hub stress is kept constant when the gasket stress is held constant for each connection with each nominal diameter while it increases as the nominal diameter increases according to ASME codes. In addition, the leak rate increases as the nominal diameter increases.

The Effect of Clamping Force and Material Properties on the Tightness Performance a Flexible Box-Shaped Flange Bolted Joint

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryou Kurosawa ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Satoshi Nagata ◽  
Yasuaki Tatsumi
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Bolted Joints ◽  
Clamping Force ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
The Finite Element Method ◽  
Flange Connection ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Helium Gas ◽  
Bolted Flange ◽  
Cover Material

Bolted joints with gaskets such as non-circular flange connections have been widely used in mechanical structures, nuclear and chemical industry, and so on. They are usually used under internal pressure as well as other loadings such as thermal, impact loadings and so on. In designing the non-circular flange connections with gaskets, it is important to evaluate the sealing performance of the non-circular flange connections with gaskets subjected to internal pressure. An important issue is how to evaluate the sealing performance in the box-shaped bolted flange connections by using the contact gasket stress distributions at the interfaces, how to reduce the weight and how to determine the initial clamping bolt force (preload) by using the new gasket constants. In this paper, the stresses of box-shaped flange connection with gaskets subjected to an internal pressure are analyzed using the finite element method (FEM), taking account a hysteresis in the stress-strain curves of the gasket. The reduced contact gasket stress distributions are analyzed when the internal pressure is applied to the connection. The leakage tests were conducted using an actual box-shaped flange connection with a gasket. Using the reduced contact gasket stress distributions at the interfaces under an internal pressure (Helium gas was used) and the amount of the leakage measured in the experiment, the sealing performances are evaluated experimentally and theoretically by changing the initial clamping force and cover material in the connections. In addition, the sealing performance of the connection with raised face is also examined. Discussion is made on the effects of the initial clamping force, cover material and the types of facing on the sealing performance in the above connections.

FEM Stress Analysis and Evaluation of the Sealing Performance in Flexible Box-Shape Bolted Flange Gasketed Joints Subjected to Internal Pressure

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kentaro Tenma ◽  
Ryou Kurosawa ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Automobile Industry ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
The Finite Element Method ◽  
Analysis And Evaluation ◽  
Flange Connection ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Helium Gas ◽  
Bolted Flange ◽  
Bolt Diameter

Bolted joints inserting gaskets such as box-shape flange connections have been widely used in mechanical structures, nuclear and chemical industry, and so on. In automobile industry, box-shape connections are applied in oil-pan structure. They are usually used under internal pressure as well as other loadings such as thermal, impact loadings and so on. In designing the box-shape flange connections with gaskets, it is important to evaluate the sealing performance of connections under internal pressure. An important issue is how to evaluate the sealing performance in the connections by using the contact gasket stress distributions at the interfaces and how to determine the initial clamping bolt force (preload) for preventing leakage. In this paper, the stresses of box-shape flange connection with gaskets subjected to an internal pressure are analyzed using the finite element method (FEM), taking into account a hysteresis in the stress-strain curves of the gasket. The contact gasket stress distributions of the connections under the internal pressure are analyzed. The leakage tests were conducted using an actual box-shape flange connection with a gasket. Using the contact gasket stress distributions at the interfaces under an internal pressure (Helium gas was used) and the amount of the leakage measured in the experiment, the sealing performances are evaluated experimentally and numerically. Furthermore, the effect of the nominal bolt diameter, the bolt pitch and flange cover seating types (raised face / flat face) is examined on the sealing performances of box-shape flange connections. Discussion is made on the sealing performance in the above connections.

The Mechanical Characteristics and Sealing Performance Evaluation of Bolted Pipe Flange Connections With Metallic Flat Gaskets Subjected to Internal Pressure

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Kondo ◽  
Koji Sato ◽  
Satomi Takahashi ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Plastic Deformation ◽  
Mechanical Characteristics ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Leak Rate ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Load Factor ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Bolt Preload ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Higher Temperature

Bolted pipe flange connections with metallic gaskets have been used under higher pressure as well as higher temperature. However, a few researches on the mechanical characteristics in connections with metallic gaskets have been carried out. It is necessary to examine the mechanical characteristics such as the contact gasket stress distributions which govern the sealing performance, the deformation of the metallic gaskets, changes in axial bolt forces and the hub stress under higher pressure and temperature. In the present paper, the objectives are to examine the changes in axial bolt forces, the hub stress and the contact gasket stress distributions and the sealing performance of the pipe flange connections with metallic flat gaskets. Firstly, the mechanical characteristics of the connections under higher pressure are analyzed using FEA. Then, experiments were carried out to measure the load factor, the hub stress and the leak rate (the sealing performance). The relationship between the average contact gasket stress and the leak rate was measured using platen device at room temperature. The FEA results are fairly coincided with the experimental results. It is shown that the leak rate decreases as the contact gasket stress increases and when the plastic deformation of gaskets occurs, the sealing performance increases. The leak rate was measured in the range of 10−4∼10−7 [Pa·m3/s]. It is found that the sealing performance increases as the gasket width increase in the elastic deformation range while it is independent of the gasket width when the plastic deformation occurs. The effect of temperature on the mechanical characteristics of the connection is also examined. The FEA results are in a fairly good agreement with the experimental results. It is found that the sealing performance increases as the temperature increases. In addition, a method how to determine the bolt preload for increasing the sealing performance is proposed.

FEM Stress Analysis and Mechanical Characteristics of Bolted Pipe Flange Connections With PTFE Blended Gaskets Subjected to External Bending Moments and Internal Pressure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Sato ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa ◽  
Riichi Morimoto ◽  
Takashi Kobayashi
Keyword(s):  
Stress Distribution ◽  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Mechanical Characteristics ◽  
Bending Moment ◽  
Leak Rate ◽  
Bending Moments ◽  
Four Point Bending ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Good Agreement

In designing of pipe flange connections with gaskets, it is important to examine the mechanical characteristics of the connections subjected to external bending moments due to earthquake such as the changes in hub stress, axial bolt forces and the contact gasket stress distribution which governs the sealing performance. One of the authors developed the PTFE blended gaskets and the authors examined the mechanical characteristics of the connections with the PTFE blended gaskets under internal pressure. However, no research was done to examine the mechanical characteristics of the connections with the newly developed PTFE blended gasket subjected to external bending moment due to earthquake. The objectives of the present study are to examine the mechanical characteristics of the connection with PTFE blended gasket subjected to external bending moment and internal pressure and to discuss the difference in the load order to the connections between the internal pressure and the external bending moments. The changes in the hub stress, the axial bolt force and the contact gasket stress distribution of the connection are analyzed using FEM. Using the obtained the gasket stress distribution and the fundamental data between the gasket stress and the leak rate for a smaller test gasket, the leak rate of the connection with the gasket is predicted under external bending moment and internal pressure. In the FEM calculations, the effects of the nominal diameter of pipe flanges on the mechanical characteristics are shown. In the experiments, ASME class 300 4 inch flange connection with 2m pipes at both sides is used and the test gasket is chosen as No.GF300 made by Nippon Valqua Industries, ltd. Four point bending moment is applied to the connection. The FEM results of the hub stress and the axial bolt forces are in a fairly good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, the FEM results of the leak rate are fairly coincided with the measured results.

FEM Calculation and Evaluation of Sealing Performance in Oil Pan Wavy-Shaped Flange Gasketed Connections

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryou Kurosawa ◽  
Kentaro Tenma ◽  
Toshiyuki Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Method ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Internal Pressure ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Light Weight ◽  
Stress Distributions ◽  
Flange Connection ◽  
Sealing Performance ◽  
Bolt Spacing ◽  
Good Agreement

The oil pan wavy-shaped flange connection, while is a type of the box-shaped flange connections, has been used for the oil-pan in the vehicles such as cars and motorcycles to seal inner fluid. Though the light weight of these connections is important, the design method has not been established, since no research for evaluating the sealing performance of the wavy-shaped flange connections has been conducted. In this paper, The contact gasket stress distribution in a oil pan wavy-shaped flange connection under the internal pressure is examined taking into account a gasket hysteresis using finite element method (FEM) for estimating a location where a principal leakage occurs and for calculating the amount of leakage. Leakage tests were also conducted to validate the estimated results using an actual connection under internal pressure. The effects of flange shape and difference in types of inner fluid (gas / liquid) are examined on the contact gasket stress distributions and the sealing performance in the connections. It is found that the estimated amount of leakage is in a fairly good agreement with the measured results. Furthermore, discussion on the effect of the bolt spacing and the gasket width on the sealing performance are made.

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