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Characteristics of gaskets for bolted flanged connections - present state of the art

Kockelmann, H. / Roos, E.

A prerequisite for the strength and tightness proof of flanged joints is the knowledge of the gasket behaviour represented by several gasket factors. There are clear distinctions between those bolted flanged connections which are floating and those which have metal-to-metal contact. For floating type flanged joints, different calculation methods are used (e.g. ASME code in USA and the new European code EN 1591). Specific sets of gasket factors are defined which can be related to each other. The gasket testing procedures are well developed and partially standardized. In the last few years, great effort was undertaken to generate a date base for gasket factors. Furthermore the validation of the gasket factors has been the subject of research projects; the relevance of test results for simplified testing boundary conditions for actual flanged joints has been shown. For metal-to-metal contact type flanged joints there are neither generally acknowledged calculational procedures nor standardized gasket factor definitions and test procedures available. The gasket characteristics required for these special boundary conditions are defined and the testing technique and experimental results are discussed. Topics of significant future research, required to close existing gaps, are clearly identified.