Bolted flanged connection on a basis of shape memory effect and inverse flexion flange design

摘要

A Bolted Flanged Connection (BFC) includes “negative creep” bolts with cores manufactured from Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) and “negative creep” gasket manufactured from the same SMA. The gasket is shape-memorized to the “swelling”, and bolt cores are shape-memorized to the compression. Temperature interval of reverse martensitic phase transformation of SMA is close to operational temperature interval of the assembly. The constrained shape recovery of the gasket and bolt cores is combined with inverse flexion flange design that constitutes original type of BFC with feature to inhibit flange rotation and creep of bolts and gasket under conditions of a variety of operational temperatures and internal pressures. Presented type of BFC allows increasing significantly internal pressure and leak tightness providing safe and extended service life of pressure vessels and plant/piping systems used in aerospace, submarine shipbuilding, petroleum refining, petrochemicals, fossil fuel and nuclear power generation, and other industries.