Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : The 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30)
Date : May 21, 2023 - May 26, 2023
ASME B16.5 and B16.47 flanges are extensively used in nuclear pressure vessels and pipping systems. With the ubiquitous use of these flanges in harsh environment, their integrity and leak tightness need to be analyzed globally. In particular, identifying the flange classes and sizes that are more effected by the level of the tightening is of interest to the piping engineer in order to take the necessary action to not overstress these flanges. In the absence of an appropriate design method that takes into account the flexibility of the complex statically indeterminate bolted flange connection and the interaction between the different joint elements, some class and size flanges are compromised and can suffer failure.
This paper proposes the use of an accurate analytical model that is validated using the numerical FE method to analyze all ASME standard flanges. The study focuses on parameters such as flange rotation and stresses in the flange, gaskets and bolts. The most critical size and class flanges and their highly stressed locations will be revealed. Some guidance on the level of bolt-up stress that should not be reached for specific classes and sizes will be given in order to avoid overstressing the flange or leakage failure.
