Bolt Selection
and nuts should be selected to conform to the design specifications set out with the flange design. Care is taken to ensure that the correct grade of material is selected to suit the recommended bolting temperature and stress ranges. Material specifications for are outlined in BS 4882 and ASME Section VIII.
Common material specifications for bolts and nuts are shown in Table A7.17. The following information should be specified when ordering bolts and nuts:
- Identification of tests in addition to those stated in the standard
- Manufacturer’s test certificate (if required). Fully threaded studbolts and heavy series nuts are most common in industrial applications
High Temperature Bolting Applications
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The relaxation of bolt stress under constant strain conditions is widely recognized and has been measured in research on stud bolt assemblies. At temperatures in excess of 300°C, special steels and alloys are required to improve upon the stress relaxation performance of low alloy steels. The relaxation behaviors of different bolting materials are shown in Fig. A7.18.
Different nut materials influence the stress-relaxation behavior of the stud, nut assembly.
The recommended nut for each grade of stud is shown in Table A7.17.
High temperature relaxation is a combined effect of gasket creep, bolt creep, and flange rotation. All three or any combination may occur. The symptoms show up as loose bolts that reduce gasket stress, resulting in increased leakage. #Little_PEng
Originally published at https://www.littlepeng.com on June 29, 2017.
