Calculation of the tightening stress of the fastening parts of flange joints with a lenticular gasket

Abstract

The working load on the fastening parts of a permanent tight joint, which determines the strength, and on the gasket, which determines the hermeticity of the joint, depends on the stress of preliminary tightening. This stress must be determined when calculating the force distribution of the joint, since it depends on the magnitude of the stress whether the joint is capable of withstanding the internal pressure of the medium in the vessel without disturbing the tightness of the joint and strength of its parts. The seal will be hermetic when the specific load on the sealing surfaces of the lenticular gasket becomes equal to or higher than the specific load established for given conditions of pressure and properties of the sealing medium. The recommended specific load was calculated for nitrogen as the working medium. The required tightening stress was calculated for standard flange joints with a lenticular gasket of nominal diameter 25-200mm at a working pressure of 32 MPa. The equations given can also be used to calculate the stress of preliminary tightening of the fastening parts and of other types of permanent tight joints with partial radial self-sealing.