Session: CS-07-02 The Warren H. Bamford Memorial Symposium on Recent Developments in ASME Codes and Standards-2

Paper Number: 151800

151800 - Comparative Study of Different Methods for Analyzing Gasketed Bolted Flanged Joints 

Abstract: 

Gasketed bolted flanged joints (GBFJ) have been designed, analyzed and maintained through various different methods. Several factors such as aging equipment, the drive towards efficient design, operation and maintenance, plus more stringent requirements for leak tightness being gradually implemented, have all pushed the industry into developing a detailed understanding of the GBFJ. This can be a daunting task initially, as one may encounter overwhelming and sometimes seemingly conflicting information provided from the perspective of flanges, bolts, gaskets, washers, assembly methods etc. Therefore, in this paper we wish to consolidate this information and perform a comparative analysis of these methods, discuss the results, explain how they compliment each other, and what are their scope and limitations.

The goal of this study is to compare the various analytical methods in ASME BPVC Section 8, PVRC Leak tightness approach, ASME PCC-1, WRC 583, WRC 510 and common industry practices. Guidelines for selecting the data for various inputs in these methods will be discussed as well. Limitations of data selection will be discussed (For example: material data from BPVC Section IID, or gasket data from EN13555 data) and advise will be provided on what are reasonable assumptions, and what are some common mistakes. In our comparative study, we will also also explore how to analyse the results and how misinterpreting the results may lead to errors in designing and assembling the joints.

In addition to the above mentioned goals, we will discuss some factors that need to be considered in the design and maintenance of Gasketed Bolted flange joint. We will discuss the reasoning and conditions due to which certain factors can be ignored. We will explore the effects of gasket types on flange gross plastic deformation limits using the elastic closed form analysis method in WRC 538, or what can be the drawback if flange limits are not considered in operating conditions. We will also touch upon the methodology in WRC 510 and we will discuss elastic interaction effects on flanged joints. The paper will also discuss the methods employed for validation of calculated results against published data.

The scope of this study will be limited to integral type flanges with gaskets entirely enclosed inside the bolt circle. Methods for analyzing ring type joints are outside the scope of this study.

 

Keywords: ASME, Flanged Joints, PVRC,  Gaskets, Leak tightness, Code calculations, WRC 538, WRC 510, EN 13555, Section VIII, Elastic interaction, Boiler and pressure vessel code, Bolt relaxation, 

Presenting Author: Mustafa Siddiqui Flexitallic Canada

Presenting Author Biography: I am a Principal Engineer with Flexitallic Canada. My interest are in the theory behind Gasketed bolted flanged joints, calculation methods, code implementation and material selection.

I have 10+ years of professional experience, which includes 6+ years in Manufacturing (Applications Engineering and Production engineering), 2 years in EPC and 1+ year in a research lab environment. I have a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering and an M.Eng. in Sustainable Energy Engineering.

Authors:

Mustafa Siddiqui Flexitallic Canada