FEA Flange Study
FEA Flange Study
(OP)
I recently asked a customer for a verification that their custom Flange would be safe to use at a designated pressure - they responded by supplying me with an FEA study that included the following screen shots - see attached.
I'm far from being an FEA expert (infact rarely ever used it) but to me this is in no way representative of the real life scenario, I was just after a more qualified response really?
To start with why model the whole flange when it is axisymmetric, the constraints seem all wrong and the loads wrong - there doesnt seem to be a hydrostatic end force or a gasket load applied and surely the maximum stress is at the hub discontinuity? I think the FEA was performed in solidworks which I am not familiar with.
I'm far from being an FEA expert (infact rarely ever used it) but to me this is in no way representative of the real life scenario, I was just after a more qualified response really?
To start with why model the whole flange when it is axisymmetric, the constraints seem all wrong and the loads wrong - there doesnt seem to be a hydrostatic end force or a gasket load applied and surely the maximum stress is at the hub discontinuity? I think the FEA was performed in solidworks which I am not familiar with.





RE: FEA Flange Study
RE: FEA Flange Study
You are correct that you should be seeing flange assembly and operating loads - particularly bolt loads as boundary conditions or loads. You should also expect gasket loads.
Punt it back to them. Trust your instincts. Perhaps they can run some VIII-1, Appendix 2 calcs...???
RE: FEA Flange Study
RE: FEA Flange Study
I always think back to this phrase "Don't confuse convenience with intelligence" when dealing with FEA!