A Method Based on the Principle of Critical Energy for Calculating Flange Joints

Abstract

An analysis has been made of the behavior of flange joint components under initial stress loading (pre-clamping) and in service. There have been highlighted the drawbacks in calculating flange joints to be found in currently acknowledged methods that do not take into account: - the influence of the bending moment produced by the total hydrostatic end force on bolt strength and flange rotation; - the presence of cracks in the welding or in its thermal influence zone; - the residual stresses; � the relaxation of the sealing gasket over time. The calculation method proposed in the paper takes into account all these particularities of loading. Furthermore, alongside the strength calculation of bolts and flanges, a proposal has been put forth for the calculation of the flange joint leak-tightness.