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 of thermal conduction. Using the finite difference method, temperature distributions in the connection subjected to transient thermal conduction were analyzed. A method for obtaining an increment in axial bolt force and the maximum stress produced in the bolts was demonstrated. In the experiments, the temperature distribution in the connection was measured by use of thermocouples. In addition, both the increment and the maximum stress due to the difference in coefficients of linear expansion as well as the stress produced in the hub were measured by strain gages when the inner circumference of the pipe flanges was subjected to thermal conduction and the outer circumference of the pipe flanges was subjected to thermal conduction and the outer circumference was kept at room temperature. The analytical results were fairly consistent with the experimental ones.