Two ways to calculate the equivalent pressure for piping flanges, based on the 2007 ASME VIII Div2

relations
The 2007 ASME VIII Div 2 design flange model is based on the conservative assumption that the pressure and the external loads are changing the
gasket load while the bolts load remains at constant value W0 . Maintaining the same conservative assumption, this model can be adapted for the
piping flange checking case.
the ASME VIII Div 2/ KOVES model

ME
Feq

FA

Feq = FA +
*
D

HD (p)= H p

W0
hD

C-2hD
B

hT

internal pressure p

hG

HT (p)= HT p
G

4FM M E
C 2h D

where
FM is the factor FM =

H* =

I
0.3846 I P + I

*
G , HD
= B 2 and H *T = G 2 B 2
4
4
4

HG (p, Feq)=W0 -H *p - Feq

must remain greater than
2bGmpRATING

Based on this model, the external loads alone, FA and M E , can be converted into equivalent pressure.
The equivalence may be made in two ways and gives complementary results.
*

Feq

W0

HD (p)= HD p

W0

hD

hD
hT
*

hG

hG
W0 -Feq

HT (p)= HT p

HG (p)=W0 -H p

The first pressure equivalence may be considered in terms of pressure that gives the same gasket load as that one given by the external
loads. This is the gasket load equivalence.
That means:

W0 H * p e = W0 Feq
pe =

Feq
H

4F M
1
F + M E
* A C 2h
H
D

4FA
16FM M E
4FA 16M E
I
G
=
G 2 + G 2 (C 2h ) = G 2 + G 3 0.3846 I + I C 2h
P
D

It is worth to note the similitude with the Kellogg/ASME III Code formulas.
Under the operational conditions (i.e. p , FA and M E as flanges loads), the gasket load must remain greater than the gasket load at the rating
pressure, as a gasket tightness reserve. This condition is covered by imposing the limit p + p e < pRATING .

The second pressure equivalence may be considered in terms of pressure that gives the same bending moment as that one given by the
external loads. This is bending moment/ flange stress/ J index equivalence.
The equivalence condition is:

(W0 Feq )h G + Feq h D = (W0 H* pe )h G + HD* pe h D + H*T pe h T

4M E FM
4M E
I
FA +
(h D h G )
FA +
(h D h G )

2
h
C

2
h
0
.
3846
I
+
I
4
D
D
P

=
=
pe = *
2
2
2
2
2
2
2

2
H D h D + H *T h T H * h G
B
h
+
(
G

B
)
h

G
hG
D
T
B hD+ G B h T G hG
4
4
4
This is the bending moment equivalence and the total pressure p + p e can be introduced as pressure for the calculation of the ASME VIII flange
Feq (h D h G )

stress and ASME VIII J index. The total pressure calculated in this way shouldnt be limited to the p RATING , unless there is the real intention to
limit the flange stress and the J index to the values corresponding to the pressure rating. Instead, the ASME VIII Div2 limits must be considered
for the flange stress and J index.

Note: the meaning of the symbols are described in 2007 ASME VIII Div2