Performance of a gasketed bolted pipe flanged joint under bolt up, internal pressure and harmonic axial loading

摘要

Gasketed bolted flange joints are observed prone to strength and sealing problems when subjected to internal pressure and external loads. Reasonable literature is available to address these features of bolted joints under internal pressure as well as static external loads. But the frequency of the loads applied due to the vibration by motors, pumps, sloshing and others are the actual operating condition in the piping systems used in industries, offshore applications and in the ships etc. In this study a three dimensional finite element analysis of a gasketed joint is carried out using the spiral wound gasket under bolt up, internal pressure and dynamic operating conditions i.e. harmonically applied axial loads with different cyclic frequencies. It is found that higher axial loads are more challenging to the mechanical strength of joint, while higher frequencies affect the joint sealing performance.