The Characteristics of Bolted Joints Subjected to External Bending Moments : Analysis of the Case Where Clamped Parts are Pipe Flanges by Three-Dimensional Theory of Elasticity

Few investigations have been carried out on the characteristics of bolted joints subjected to external bending moments, or, more specifically, on axi-asymmetric loads such as the clamping force of bolts and the external bending moment. In this paper, the clamping effect and the force ratio in the case where clamped parts are pipe flanges subjected to external bending moments are analyzed as an axi-asymmetric problem using the three-dimensional theory of elasticity. For verification, experiments are carried out with respect to the distribution of contact stress and the force ratio for the external bending moment (relationship between an increment of bolt axial force and the external bending moment). Analytical results are in fairly good agreement with experimental ones.