Numerical analysis of ring flange connection with defined surface area

Abstract

AbstractRing flange connections with preloaded high strength bolts are most commonly used to connect two segments of steel tubular towers. Behaviour and durability of ring flange connections is influenced by various factors, including stiffness of ring flanges, fabrication and execution imperfections, welding technology and welding details of the ring flange/segment connection, type of bolts, pretension technique and control of accomplished pretension force in bolts. This paper focuses on ring flange connections with defined contacts compared to the “full ring flange connection”. No imperfections are considered. Behaviour of the ring flange connections is investigated by advanced finite element analysis (FEA). The realistic geometry of bolted connection, ductile damage material model and element removal are used in the advanced FE model with explicit numerical solver. In addition, the influence of two types of high strength bolts, fully‐threaded and partial‐threaded bolts, on the mechanical behaviour of connections is considered. The failure modes and tensile stiffness are compared using different analytical models. Finally, recommendations for calculation of the tensile resistance of the connection and the bolt force with defined surface area are provided.