Improving Flange Designs Based on ASME Section VIII Div. 1, Appendix 2
Abstract Although improved methods for flange design have been under development for many years, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII, Division 1 Appendix 2 continues to be the basis for the design of most custom pressure vessel flanges. While the method does a reasonably good job of calculating flange stress and rotation from the design loadings, it does not closely constrain some of the design input variables, such as gasket width and geometry, allowing the designer to produce poorly-performing designs. Also, the gasket loading factors (m & y values) have long been recognized as needing improvement. These weaknesses occasionally result in flanges which are difficult to seal, even with very high assembly bolt stress. In response to these weaknesses in the Appendix 2 method, various attempts to improve the method may be employed, and are sometimes required by end-user specifications. This paper provides an assessment of the effectiveness of various improvement techniques by examining the actual effects on flange designs across a range of diameter and design pressure, and makes recommendations for the use of such techniques. The analysis methods in PCC-1 and WRC Bulletin 538 are used as the basis of the evaluation, with a focus on gasket stress as fundamental to sealing.