Development of an analytical calculation method for the design of thermoplastic flange systems

In the course of environmental protection and the amendment of TA Luft, emissions from flange connections must be reduced (to L0.01). The design and calculation of steel flanges is easy to handle with the help of EN 1591-1 and EN 13555. However, these standards are not suitable in their current form for thermoplastic sealing joints, such as those used in natural gas supply. For this reason, lengthy and cost-intensive tests must currently be carried out to verify tightness and strength. The aim of a doctoral project is to develop a time-efficient and cost-effective analytical calculation method based on the existing standards. For this purpose, the energy-elastic material parameters of the steel must be replaced by elastoplastic material parameters of the thermoplastics and the calculation algorithm adapted accordingly. The problem is to be investigated with the aid of numerical structural simulations (FEM) and experimental tests.