How Do I Determine Bolt Torque for Flanged

Connections?
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by Fluid Sealing Association
December 17, 2011
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Controlling the load is essential to ensuring the gasketed joint will seal properly.
Previous Sealing Sense articles have examined the types of gaskets to use, how flange finish
affects gasket sealing and major pitfalls to avoid to properly assemble a gasketed joint. However,
regardless of the type of gasket, controlling the load is probably the most important criteria for
getting a gasketed joint to seal. A big problem is the load on the gasket cannot be measured
directly and easily during installation.
However, applied torque on the flange bolts can be measured and controlled and is one of the
most frequently used methods to control gasket load. This article explores bolt torque and the
major considerations for converting measurable bolt torque into the gasket load necessary to seal
a flanged connection.

Bolt Torque
Torque is the turning force measured in foot-pounds (ft-lb) or inch-pounds (in-lb) applied to
tighten (turn) the nut on a bolt. Torque can be measured during flange assembly with a properly
calibrated torque wrench. In a bolted flange, the applied torque generates the axial load in the
bolt. The bolt acts like a spring. Tightening the nut stretches the bolt, which increases the load on
the gasket. The relationship between torque, the turning force, axial bolt force and gasket load
can be expressed by the simplified formula:

T= (k∙f∙d)/12

Where:
T=Torque in ft-lb

k=Dimensionless nut factor

f=axial force in pounds

d=Nominal bolt diameter in inches

The nut factor is a "modified" friction factor, but a nut factor involves more than just friction. It
is more of a multiplier "in total," taking into account many other load losses. If the same torque
is applied, a 0.1 nut factor would produce twice the axial force as a 0.2 nut factor. Small changes
in the nut factor can result in large changes in the load experienced by the gasket. This illustrates
the need for a well lubricated bolt, nut and washer.

Figure 1. Forces on a bolted connection

Forces on a Bolted Connection
As described above, the bolts act like springs pulling the flanges together. They need to be
stretched enough to keep the load on the gasket as the system is pressurized and as pressure and
temperature cycle during normal usage. Additional loading above the minimum load required to
seal will give the bolted joint flexibility to absorb these load changes and a safety margin to
maintain the seal as these system forces fluctuate.
Bolt yield strength is a measure of the load required to stretch the bolt to its maximum length or
stretch and still allow it to spring back to its original length. If the bolt is overstretched and is
loaded beyond its yield strength, the bolt will not "spring back" when the load is removed.
Overloading bolts can cause them to stretch beyond their yield strength and actually result in
lower loads exerted on the gasket, after additional external and application loads are applied to
the joint. Continued tightening of the bolts will not necessarily increase gasket load or stop a
gasketed joint leak, and may lead to bolt failure.
The bolt may also lose its compressive load if it is not stretched enough and the system relaxes
beyond the amount the bolt has been stretched. It is often recommended that a bolt be loaded to
approximately 50 to 60 percent of its yield strength to ensure the "spring" is stretched enough.
However, this recommendation should be tempered by the amount of gasket stress and flange
stresses generated; check to ensure that the applied load will not overload and damage the gasket
or the flange.
Bolts come in a variety of grades, each with individual yield strength and properties. Proper bolt
selection is critical to the proper assembly of a bolted flange joint.

Gasket Design Requirements

We have a torque wrench to measure the torque during assembly and a formula to calculate the
torque based on the gasket load, but what is the gasket load needed to generate a seal? The f, or
force, portion from our torque equation is composed of two major parts, as noted by the design
rules for raised face pipe flanges in the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. First is the force needed
to compress and hold the gasket in place. The load generated by the bolts has to compress the
gasket so it conforms to the flan ge surfaces, and to "seat" the gasket into the flange. This
involves the gasket unit seating load or factor, y.
Second, is the combined force needed to:

1. •1. Overcome the hydrostatic end forces generated by the internal fluid
pressure trying to push the flanges apart
2. •2. Compress the gasket enough to hold it in place when the internal pressure
is trying to penetrate through the gasket and/or gasket/flange sealing surfaces
3. •3. Maintain some residual load on the gasket after the hydrostatic load has
unloaded the gasket, which involves the gasket factor m.
The forces needed to compress the gasket for an effective seal vary with the type and
style of gasket, the degree of flange tightness, system fluid, as well as temperature and
pressure. The ASME m and y gasket factors determine the loads needed on the gasket,
but it is best to get a recommendation from the gasket manufacturer. Note: the m and
y gasket factors often listed are non-mandatory, "minimum" values, and do not
necessarily speak to the leak tightness of a given joint.

The Code Design equation utilized to determine a minimum seating load on the gasket
is as follows:

Wm2 = (π•b•G)y

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The first combination of parameters is basically an effective gasket area based upon pi
times a derived gasket width b, which is different for different compression
configurations and gasket types, and G, which is a gasket load reaction diameter. The
derivation of these values for all of the different gasket types and flange compression
configurations is beyond the scope of this article, but can be found in product
literature and in the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.
Note that some manufacturers utilize a gasket area much closer to the actual area of
gasket sealing surface under compression as opposed to the effective area illustrated
above, giving a much more conservative number. This will still comply with the
Code, since the Code gives minimum loads. This area is then multiplied by the gasket
factor y, to obtain the load Wm2. The greater the y value, the larger the load required
to "seat" the gasket.
The second load consideration is a combination of two factors, the hydrostatic end
load on the flanged joint and a residual gasket load. This load is determined by the
following equation:

Wm1 = ((π•G2 • P)/4) + (2 •b•π •G • m • P)

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The first portion of this equation represents a term to derive the hydrostatic end
forces. These are calculated by multiplying the pressure P by the effective internal
area of the gasket (π·G2 /4) where G is the load diameter, which is typically around the
midpoint of the compressed gasket area. The second term in the above equation is the
required residual gasket load. It is calculated by multiplying the pressure P by an
effective gasket area (2 •b∙π• G) and then multiplying this load by the gasket factor m.
In essence, a gasket with a higher m factor will require a higher residual load.
The code anticipates higher installation bolt loads than these design values as a safety
factor against leakage under operating conditions and to allow for joint relaxation in
operation. It anticipates the possible need for initial bolt loads that may be much
greater than the minimum design value, provided that excessive flange distortion and
maximum gasket load capacities are taken into consideration.
Consequently, nearly all flanges use considerably higher load values for installation.
Installation loads are often more than twice the minimum design loads. We
recommend contacting gasket manufacturers for their recommended installation
gasket loads.

Summary
The greater of the two values-Wm1 or Wm2-will dictate the minimum required design
bolt load. The minimum required bolt load divided by the number of bolts in the
flange will determine the minimum f, or force, needed to use the torque equation.

After calculating the torque, ensure the bolts are not over-stretching and exceeding
their yield strength, or some predetermined design stress. Additionally, check to see if
the bolts are stretched enough for them to compensate for creep, pressure and
temperature cycling and other load losses.

A detailed look at the torque and loading required to seal bolted flange joints can be
found in John Bickford's book Gaskets and Gasketed Joints.

We invite your questions on sealing issues and will provide best effort answers based
on FSA publications. Please direct your questions
to: [email protected].
Gaskets
September 20, 2016 by Neven

In this blog I will briefly present gasket design criteria and bolt torque calculation. For
this purpose spreadsheet has been made, where yellow fields are required data that will
be entered. All equations, units and description are given in the figures. Calculation is
conducted for 4″ flanges class 300 having Flexitallic spiral wound gasket. Bolt torque
calculation and checking gasket design criteria is accomplished in the five steps.
Step 1
Calculate gasket effective gasket width and diameter of gasket load reaction as per
ASME DIV.2.
Step 2
Calculate required bolt torque assuming that bolt preload tension stress is 0.65 of yield stress.
Note that bolt torque must be in the range recommend by supplier. Sometimes bolt torque is
given as percentage of yield stress (e.g bolt preload stress must be equal to 65% of yield
stress).
Step 3
Calculate equivalent pressure using Kellog’s method.

Step 4
Calculate minimum required bolt load for gasket: seating condition (Wm2), operating condition
(Wm1) and hydro test condition (Wmt).
Calculate: bolt preload tension force (Ft), bolt load for operating condition (Fm1) and bolt load
for seating condition (Fm2).
Note that calculation is based on given design conditions: operating pressure is 150 Psi and
design temperature is 350 degree F.
Step 5
Check gasket design criteria for:
1. Gasket seating condition (bolt load for gasket seating condition must be less that the bolt
preload tension force).
2. Operating condition (bolt load during operating condition must be less than allowable bolt
force).
3. Hydro test condition (bolt load during hydro test must less than the bolt preload tension
force).
Summary:
Bolting and torque value recommended by Flexittalic is adequate for piping system. Please see
the figures below.

This calculation will only ensure that bolting and bolt preload tension force (or bolt torque) is
adequate for operating and hydro test condition. Flange supplier usually recommends bolt
torque range and in the most cases it will be adequate for hydro test condition.
Flange leakage occurs due to overstressing flange and stress on flange along with flange
rotation (or flange rigidity) must be checked. There are two methods for flange leakage
calculation:
1. Pressure Equivalent method based on ASME B 16.5 pressure temperature table.
2. ASME BPVC Sec VIII Div 1 Appendix 2 method.
A good tutorial on flange leakage calculation utilizing Caesar II can be found on the site What is
Piping.
Normally, flange leakage calculation is specified as a mandatory in stress specification. Bolt
torque along with bolt tightening sequence is specified in installation instructions and should be
calculated (checked) as per procedure describe above. Procedure describe above is PRVC
method which is based on ‘m’ and ‘y’ values. New method ROTT (Room Temperature Tightness
Test) developed by ASME SWG (Special working Group) is still in development phase.