Abstract
Flange rotation and varying contact stresses further influence leakage, necessitating rigorous evaluation methods. This study presents a finite element (FE) model for analyzing gasket contact stresses under different loading conditions. The model accounts for variations in compression due to flange rotation and examines the sealing performance of different gasket materials. The findings provide insights into optimizing bolted flange joint design to enhance leakage prevention and improve structural reliability in high-pressure applications, including nuclear reactors and space vehicles. Bolted flange joints are critical components in piping and pressure vessel systems, where maintaining joint integrity and preventing leakage are primary concerns. While the strength of metallic joints has been well studied since the 1920s, leakage analysis remains a challenging issue due to the complex interactions between bolt load, internal pressure, flange stiffness, and gasket material properties. Ga