Abstract
Deformation and sealing properties of rubber gasket of dresser type expansion coupling were analyzed by the axisymmetric finite element method (FEM) which dealt with nonlinear elastic and contact deformable-to-deformable problem. Axial tension stress of the bolt and strain on the middle ring of coupling were also measured by using strain gage method. The FEM model is applicable, since the tendency of calculated results by FEM are similar to the those of experiments. The gasket is forced out the airtight area, and the strain energy of gasket becomes higher on the contacting surface with the pipe and middle ring. The seating stresses of gasket on the pipe and the middle ring increase near the front edge of gasket. The tendency of seating stress distributions are change little, if the coupling is given the internal pressure or the expansion of pipe.
