BEHAVIOR OF PIPE FLANGE CONNECTION IN TRANSIENT TEMPERATURE-FIELD

The behavior of a bolted connection, using several aluminum alloy pipe flanges with steel bolts and nuts, was examined under the condition o f thermal conduction. Using the finite difference method, temperature distributions in the connection subjected to transient thermal conduct ion were analyzed. A method for obtaining an increment in axial bolt f orce and the maximum stress produced in the bolts was demonstrated. In the experiments, the temperature distribution in the connection was m easured by use of thermocouples. In addition, both the increment and t he maximum stress due to the difference in coefficients of linear expa nsion as well as the stress produced in the hub were measured by strai n gages when the inner circumference of the pipe flanges was subjected to thermal conduction and the outer circumference was kept at room te mperature. The analytical results were fairly consistent with the expe rimental ones.