Because of their importance for the integrity of heat exchangers, the strength of tube-to-tubesheet joints, and particularly their axial strength, is of special interest. A finite element model of an expanded tube-to-tubesheet joint is proposed and examined experimentally with the objective of determining numerically its axial strength. Simplified analytical methods that were previously proposed by many authors to predict the joint axial strength are also used in this investigation. Experimental testing shows that the finite element model is highly accurate for calculating the joint axial strength. The experimental investigation also proves that the pull-out strength is overestimated when calculated using a simple analytical solution. A parametric analysis using the finite element results indicates that the pull-out force is normally lower than the push-out load and that both are lower than the estimations of the analytical solution. The results indicate that the pull-out force as given by the finite element model is generally 35 percent lower than that evaluated by the analytical solution. A difference of as much as 10 percent is also found between the push-out and pull-out loads.
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February 2002
Technical Papers
Axial Strength of Tube-to-Tubesheet Joints: Finite Element and Experimental Evaluations
M. Allam,
M. Allam
Research and Development Engineering, Pratt & Whitney, Middletown, CT 06457
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A. Bazergui, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering
A. Bazergui, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3A7 Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
M. Allam
Research and Development Engineering, Pratt & Whitney, Middletown, CT 06457
A. Bazergui, Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3A7 Canada
Contributed by the Pressure Vessels and Piping Division for publication in the JOURNAL OF PRESSURE VESSEL TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received by the PVP Division, June 14, 1999; revised manuscript received May 22, 2001. Associate Editor: S. Mirza.
J. Pressure Vessel Technol. Feb 2002, 124(1): 22-31 (10 pages)
Published Online: May 22, 2001
Article history
Received:
June 14, 1999
Revised:
May 22, 2001
Citation
Allam, M., and Bazergui, A. (May 22, 2001). "Axial Strength of Tube-to-Tubesheet Joints: Finite Element and Experimental Evaluations ." ASME. J. Pressure Vessel Technol. February 2002; 124(1): 22–31. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1398555
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