Flange Joint Assembly Research Articles

Measurement and assembly methods for bolted flange joints using three-dimensional digital image correlation

Bolted flange joints are extensively used in pressure vessels and piping equipment. The assembly coaxiality accuracy and bolt pre-tightening force are particularly important in causing the risk of seal and leakage failure. This paper proposed a novel non-contact measurement and assembly adjustment method to reduce the coaxiality angle deviation efficiently. The flange joint is first bolted according to standard flange joint assembly guidelines and then adjusted using the proposed method. In the proposed method, the surface deformation and the coaxiality of the flange are evaluated using a 3D-DIC (three-dimensional digital image correlation) technique; RMS (root mean square) of the surface deformation is used to drive the correction of the bolts to further reduce the coaxiality angle deviation. Compared with existing bolting patterns, the established measurement and assembly adjustment method, which combines 3D-DIC measurement and adjustment based on RMS, can effectively reduce the coaxiality angle deviation. The experiments using a correction strategy demonstrated that the coaxiality angle deviation is reduced by 48.9 % and 60.1 % on average compared with the well-known star bolting pattern and modified star bolting pattern provided by ASME PCC-1, respectively, and even by 30.6 % and 51.9 % compared with their rotational pass patterns. Further experiments with an iterative strategy showed that the coaxiality angle deviation could be reduced by around 70 % and 75 %, tending to be stable around 0.01°–0.035°, after only 5 iterative adjustments.

Deformation and Stresses generated on a Bolted Flange Joint Assembly and Grayloc Clamp Connector at Elevated Temperatures

Finite element analyses were performed to investigate the leakage and structural integrity of the bolted flange joint assembly (BFJA) and Grayloc clamp connector (GCC), when each assembly was subjected to bolt preload, internal pressure and thermal loadings. The thermal loadings were divided into spatially-uniform and spatially-nonuniform temperatures. The internal pressure for both assemblies was 27 MPa. The BFJA was found to have satisfactory leakage and structural performance for the thermal loadings expected on the low-temperature (260 °C) side of the Carleton Supercritical Water (CSCW) loop. The GCC was found to have satisfactory leakage and structural performance for the thermal loadings expected on the high-temperature (600 °C) side of the CSCW loop. The leakage integrity of the GCC was found to fail for temperature gradients as high as 100 °C. The use of the GCC on the exit of the test section employed on the CSCW loop was not recommended.

Bolted Pipe Flange Joint Assembly Man-hour Reduction and Related Problem

Bolted Pipe Flange Joint Assembly Man-hour Reduction and Related Problem

The effect of bolt tightening methods and sequence on the performance of gasketed bolted flange joint assembly

This paper presents results of the effect of different bolt tightening sequences and methods on the performance of gasketed bolted flange joint using nonlinear finite element analysis. Bolt preload scatter due to elastic interactions, flange stress variation and bolt bending due to flange rotation and gasket contact stress variation is difficult to eliminate in torque control method i.e. tightening one bolt at a time. Although stretch control method (tightening more than one bolt at time) eradicates the bolt preload scatter, flange stress variation is relatively high. Flange joint\'s performance is compared to establish relative merits and demerits of both the methods and different bolt tightening sequences.

OS1414 JISフランジ継手締付け方法の適用範囲拡大 : シートガスケットの締付け周回数の検討

OS1414 JISフランジ継手締付け方法の適用範囲拡大 : シートガスケットの締付け周回数の検討

Deflections of A Multipass Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger Bolted Joint Subjected to Nonaxisymmetric Thermal Loading

Despite the fact that multipass shell-and-tube heat exchangers operating at high temperature are subject to frequent problems related to flange sealing, there is neither detailed explanations for the reasons of the failures nor an adequate solution to this problem. Specific geometry of multipass heat exchangers and the temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet fluids is responsible for the existence of a thermal circumferential gradient at the shell-to-channel bolted joint. However, existing flange design methods do not address nonaxisymmetrical temperature loading of the flanged joint assembly. The circumferential thermal gradient, as the cause of frequent failures to seal the flanged joints, is ignored. This paper outlines the analytical modeling of a flanged joint with a tube sheet of a multipass heat exchanger subjected to a nonaxisymmetrical thermal loading. A shell-and-tube heat exchanger of 51 in. diameter with cocurrent flow was used for analysis. The main steps of the theoretical analysis used for the determination of the circumferential temperature profiles and the thermal expansion displacements and distortions of the bolted joint components are given. The results from the proposed analytical model are compared with those obtained from finite element models.

Solving the Puzzle of Bolted Joints

This article discusses the various ways of solving the puzzle of bolted joint assembly. In 2001, The PCC-1-2000 Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly presented with knowledge and practices specific to the assembly of bolted flange joints. The puzzle solution that came from this box was the most definitive to date and allowed those dealing with bolted joints to assemble the variables by methods that had been used successfully for many years by many people. This document is helping people across industry not only to assemble bolted flange joints, but also to establish joint integrity programs, procedures, and best practices. PCC-1-2010 shifts the emphasis to gasket stress and gasket type and provides instruction and information pertinent to bolt torque values. The 2010 document contains, for instance, a whole section on bolt stress—the unit load that should be put on the bolts—and includes tables as well.

602 JISフランジ継手締付け方法の適用範囲拡大 : ガスケットの弾性係数に関する検討(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価I)

602 JISフランジ継手締付け方法の適用範囲拡大 : ガスケットの弾性係数に関する検討(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価I)

Application of Plastic Region Bolt Tightening to Flange Joint Assembly

Application of Plastic Region Bolt Tightening to Flange Joint Assembly

601 フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用 : 熱負荷を受けるコンパクトフランジ継手の挙動(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価I)

601 フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用 : 熱負荷を受けるコンパクトフランジ継手の挙動(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価I)

651 電動インパクトレンチによるフランジ継手のボルト締付けについて(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価III)

651 電動インパクトレンチによるフランジ継手のボルト締付けについて(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価III)

Application of Plastic Region Tightening Bolt to Flange Joint Assembly

Application of Plastic Region Tightening Bolt to Flange Joint Assembly

558 フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用 : 大口径フランジ継手の締付け(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価IV,オーガナイズドセッション)

558 フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用 : 大口径フランジ継手の締付け(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価IV,オーガナイズドセッション)

Downsizing of Boltz by an Application of Plastic Region Tightening Method to Flange Joint

Plastic region tightening has been applied to the flange joint assembly in order to downsize the bolt and flange. The tightening procedure follows the modified HPIS flange tightening procedure, which employs the angle control method instead of the torque control method. Tightening tests is conducted using JPI 4 inch flanges and spiral wound gaskets. Bolts of M 16 with the reduced shank are used to adjust the tightening force. The estimation method is proposed for the yield tightening force of the bolt with reduced shank of hollow cylinder. The scatter of the axial bolt force is 10% or less after the tightening process is completed. The uniformity of the axial bolt forces obtained by plastic region tightening is equivalent or superior to that of elastic region tightening by HPIS procedure. In the tightening process, the increase in axial bolt force is very small in the plastic region of the bolt, so that the influence of the elastic interaction is also small, which is advantageous with respect to the uniformity of the axial bolt force. Application of plastic region tightening to the flange joint can downsize the bolts from M 16 to M 8 due to higher tightening bolt forces and their uniformity.

Application of Plastic Region Tightening Bolt to Flange Joint Assembly

Application of Plastic Region Tightening Bolt to Flange Joint Assembly

504 フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用 : フランジの小型化(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価I)

504 フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用 : フランジの小型化(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価I)

505 フランジ継手締付け指針の適用範囲拡大 : 延伸PTFEガスケットへの適用(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価I)

505 フランジ継手締付け指針の適用範囲拡大 : 延伸PTFEガスケットへの適用(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価I)

851 管用フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用 : 内圧作用下におけるボルト軸力の挙動(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価II)

851 管用フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用 : 内圧作用下におけるボルト軸力の挙動(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価II)

508 管用フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価)

508 管用フランジ継手への塑性域締結の適用(フランジガスケット締結体の力学と密封性能評価)

Development of Bolt Tightening Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Flanged Joint Assembly

Development of Bolt Tightening Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Flanged Joint Assembly