Abstract
The Third Report of the Pipe Flanges Research Committee is concerned, with the exception of elastic resistance strain gauge measurement of stresses of two standard flange rings, with the results of a programme of investigation, projected by the Committee in being when the Second Report was made, into the elastic and plastic (creep relaxation) behaviour of flanges, drilled and undrilled, by means of model flanges, and of certain bolt materials.
Execution and completion of the programme and attention to its results, was interrupted and delayed by the 1939–45 war. Subsequently examination of the creep relaxation data showed that the phenomenon, and the interpretation of the results, involved difficulties unknown at the time the tests were made, and the need for further investigation became evident. The results, however, have important bearing upon the behaviour of flanged joints and also as a contribution to the subject providing a base for further advances.
An Addendum to the Report refers to matters which arise in connexion with utilization of its results for engineering needs.
The Committee wishes to record its indebtedness to the Reporter, Dr. A. E. Johnson, now of M.E.R.L., East Kilbride, and formerly of the N.P.L. Engineering Division, who has been chiefly concerned with the investigations at elevated temperatures, and to Mr. H. L. Cox, now of the N.P.L. Engineering Physics Section, and formerly of the N.P.L. Engineering Division, who has been principally interested in the investigation of elastic properties, and who was responsible for the automatic strain control equipment of the relaxation unit.
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