Abstract
The contact gasket stress distributions of rectangular box-shape flange connections with compressed joint sheet gaskets subjected to internal pressure were analyzed taking account hysteresis of the gaskets using finite element method (FEM). Leakage tests were also conducted using actual rectangular box-shape flange connections with compressed joint sheet gaskets under internal pressure. By using the contact gasket stress distributions and the results of the leakage tests, the new gasket constants were calculated. The difference in the new gasket constants between the values obtained from the present study and those by the PVRC procedure was substantial. In addition, a method to determine the initial clamping bolt force (bolt preload) for a given tightness parameter was demonstrated.