Stress Analysis and Sealing Performance Evaluation in Non-Circular Flange Connections With Gaskets Subjected to Internal Pressure
The contact gasket stress distributions of a non-circular flange connection with a compressed asbestos sheet gasket subjected to internal pressure were analyzed taking into account of the hysteresis behaviors of the gasket by using the finite element method (FEM). Leakage tests were also conducted using an actual non-circular flange connection with a compressed asbestos sheet gasket under internal pressure. Using the contact gasket stress distributions and the results of the leakage tests, the new gasket constants were calculated. The difference in the new gasket constants between the values obtained from the present study and those by the PVRC procedure was substantial. In addition, a method to determine the initial clamping bolt force (bolt preload) for a given tightness parameter was demonstrated.