Stresses in and deformations of swivel ring flanges due to bolt loading

Abstract

Abstract

Photoelastic and finite element methods of analysis were used to study the behaviour of swivel ring flanges. The use of tapers on the ‘back faces’ of flanges or of small, local reductions in flange thickness, to control the ‘load position’ and hence reduce the stresses, were investigated. The effectiveness of these techniques was assessed by comparing results with those for the more usual lapped joints between the flanges and rings. It was found that the taper and ‘reduced thickness’ techniques can result in significantly reduced stresses for the same bolt loads. However, the largest stress, which occurs in the fillet regions of the flanges, is not reduced by as much as the design codes predict. The friction conditions between the flange and ring were also found to have a significant effect on the stresses