Reliability and structural integrity of connections
This article addresses the possible loads on a connection and its sealing and structural capacity. It should be highlighted that these capacities do not always produce the same value.
1 Imposed loads
In general a connection is subjected to two types of load:
- Make-up load: Making up the parts will impose stresses in the connection. In general, the stress levels are related to the make-up torque applied. Stresses should be sufficiently high to generate good contact between the sealing surfaces, but below yield to avoid plastic . . .