Abstract
The load factor for bolted circular flange joints where two dissimilar material (steel-aluminum) of circular flanges are clamped by a lot of bolts and nuts under external tensile loadings is examined newly using Finite Element analysis. Furthermore, the effects of the bolt pitch circle diameter D and number of tightened bolts N on the load factor and a load when the interfaces start to separate are examined. The value of the load factor for steel-aluminum circular flange joint is a little bit larger than that for steel-steel circular flange joints and it increases as the value of D decreases. In addition, it decreases as the value of N increases. A maximum bending stress is also found newly about 5% larger than the bolt stress due to the load factor. The experiments to measure the load factor, the maximum bending bolt stress and a load when the interfaces start to separate were carried out. The FEM results are fairly coincided with the experimental results. Finally, based on the obtained load factor, a design method for bolted joints with dissimilar circular flanges is demonstrated for determining the nominal bolt diameter and the bolt strength grade and the effect of bolt number N is examined. It is found that the contact stress at the bearing surfaces of aluminum circular flange is critical and it is shown that washers are needed in some cases.
