FEM Stress Analysis and Sealing Performance in Bolted Flange Connection with Cover of Pressure Vessel Subjected to Internal Pressure

Abstract

The stresses of a bolted flange connection with a cover of pressure vessel in which a spiral wound gasket is inserted, under internal pressure are analyzed taking account a hysteresis of the gasket by using the finite element method (FEM). The leakage tests were also conducted using an actual bolted flange connection with a cover of pressure vessel with a spiral wound gasket. Using the contact stress distribution of the bolted flange connection under internal pressure and the tightness parameter, the values of the new gasket constant were obtained by taking into account the changes in the contact stress. The sealing performance was evaluated by the new gasket constants.