The pressure vessel industry can now propose piping networks made of Glass Reinforced Plastics. This technology has advantages, lesser weight, resistance to corrosion… The most important drawback problem is the lack of industrial references, standards, sizing of these structures needs an approach different from that used for more conventional steel structures and has to be put in a specific part of a code linked to standard steel codes re´f. 1. The sizing can use conventional numerical tools like the finite element analysis but needs a good knowledge of the materials as well as an adapted calculation Code. In Europe, projects try to give theorica, tests data, design consideration, informations to be able to build standards, for example “Design of GRP Flanges and Tests to Verify the Design and to Determine Long-Term Properties of GRP Pipes”. This paper shows examples of such mechanical analysis done on GRP flanges.

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