Abstract
Filled PTFE gaskets have been developed to improve a viscosity performance of PTFE which leads to a leak of inner fluid. However, the performance evaluation methods of the gasket in an actual bolted flanged connection are not reported so far. In this study, the mechanical behaviors of the pipe flange connection with the filled PTFE gasket are investigated by the finite element method considering the visco-elastic-plastic properties of the gasket. First, the visco-elastic-plastic properties of the gasket, or stress-strain and creep curves, are obtained by compression tests and those data are identified to used in the finite element simulations. Next, the bolt load relaxation and the gasket contact stress in the pipe flange connection are estimated by the finite element simulations. Finally, it is concluded that the filled PTFE gasket has much more excellent performance comparing to the pure PTFE gasket in the real pipe flange connection. Furthermore, the important design factors in the gasket development are clarified through systematic simulations.
