Determination of Gasketed and Non-gasketed Flanged Pipe Joint’s Capacity Subjected to Combined Loading: An Experimental Approach

This paper presents details of an experimental set up for the determination of a flanged pipe joint’s capacity subjected to singly and combined loading. Most international codes and design standards have rules based on internal pressure loading only and a little or no consideration is given to the loads acting in combination. The main aim of this experimental setup is the performance testing of both gasketed and non-gasketed flange pipe joints subjected to singly and combined loading i.e. internal pressure plus axial plus bending in different combinations. A test rig is designed and manufactured and details of design, strain gauging, instrumentation, calibration and assembly of different parts used in test rig are presented and discussed. Results for strains on bolts and test rig under application of combined loading observed are also presented.