It is very frequent to face the problem of the check of flanged joints carrying out the stress analysis of very small size piping systems (around a couple of inches NPS).
In general such systems results to be extremely sensitive, in particular to thermal expansion and even for small variation of...
thread794-102016
A lot of opinions (and confusion) on the matter.
I think the common sense will help.
Summarizing:
1)the pressure thrust exists and produces local effects on the vessel's shell in proximity of the opening even if it is balanced on the opposite wall of the vessel.
2)the above...
