Brief Description

In this 13 week course, learn the basics of an important element of many products, systems and structures: the bolted joint. Learn fundamental applications of bolted joints and learn the most recent developments in analysis, assembly practice, and gasket technology.

Benefits

Improve your work skills at your own pace and convenience
Learn-by-doing enhance learning experience
Acquire practical tools that you can apply on the job
Network with others in your field
Earn 2.25 CEUs

Target Audience

Production, plant and maintenance engineers and superintendents, especially those dealing with power and process plant pressure vessels and piping, heavy equipment, and construction; designers and others who use and maintain bolted joints.

Course Highlights

Introduction to the bolted joint including relevant bolt and materials standards for mechanical and structural joints.
Stress distributions and stiffness for fasteners and joints
Assembly guidelines and procedures including an overview of the new ASME PCC-1 guidelines and discussion of torque, turn of nut, stretch and tension control with the latest on bolting pattern and lubricant research. A preview of the proposed new rules for gasketed pressurized joints using the new PVRC gasket constants
Behavior of bolted joints during assembly, and In-service. Overview of clamping force reduction mechanisms including elastic interaction and thermal and mechanical effects.
Appropriate gasket and bolt material selection. Spreadsheet examples for the calculation of stresses, stiffness', appropriate preload and torque.
Illustrative case histories and real life examples.
An overview of computer programs for analyzing raised face gasketed joints
Leak causes and cures in gasketed joints, the latest on gasket behavior, selection and qualification.
Failure mechanisms and avoidance guidelines.

Recommended Reading:
- ASME PCC-1, Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly, An American National Std. (ANSI), Nov. 2000
- Bickford, John H., Editor Gaskets and Gasketed Joints, New York: Dekker, 1998
- Bickford, John H., Nassar, Sayed, Editors Handbook of Bolts and Bolted Joints, New York: Dekker, 1998
- M. Derenne, L. Marchand and J.R. Payne, Elevated Temperature Characterization of Flexible Graphite Sheet Materials for Bolted Flanged Joints, WRC Bulletin 419, February 1997
- M. Derenne, J.R. Payne, L. Marchand and A. Bazergui, Development of Test Procedures for Fire Resistance Qualification of Gaskets, WRC Bulletin 377, December 1992

Required Reading:
- Introduction to Design and Behavior of Bolted Joints  by John H. Bickford.  The publisher is Marcel Dekker, Inc.