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M&Y Values Test and Explanation May 2017

The document discusses M and Y values that are used to design flanged joints according to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The Y value represents the compressive stress needed to initially seal a gasket. The M value allows designers to determine the additional compressive stress required to maintain the seal when the vessel is pressurized. M is a multiplier of the internal pressure. Garlock determines M and Y values through tests that apply increasing compressive loads and pressures to gaskets until a specified leak rate is reached. The values provided represent the stress levels that achieve an acceptably tight seal.

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115 views2 pages

M&Y Values Test and Explanation May 2017

The document discusses M and Y values that are used to design flanged joints according to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The Y value represents the compressive stress needed to initially seal a gasket. The M value allows designers to determine the additional compressive stress required to maintain the seal when the vessel is pressurized. M is a multiplier of the internal pressure. Garlock determines M and Y values through tests that apply increasing compressive loads and pressures to gaskets until a specified leak rate is reached. The values provided represent the stress levels that achieve an acceptably tight seal.

Uploaded by

reza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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May 8, 2017

To: General Distribution

"What are M & Y Values?"


We are frequently asked to provide M & Y values for our gaskets so that the customer can design flanged
joints using the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Occasionally, we are asked to explain how these
values are used and how they are determined for our gaskets.

(Be sure to see the notes below on M&Y Testing)

In simple terms, a flange must be designed to create sufficient compressive load (usually expressed in
stress, as psi) on the gasket contact area to create an initial seal. The gasket must conform to the flange
surface (serrations when present) and must be compressed enough to seal off any internal voids or spaces.
This stress is basically the "Y" value.

The "M" value allows the flange designer to determine the compressive load on the gasket required to
maintain a seal when the vessel is pressurized. The flange must have sufficient strength and bolting to hold
the joint together against the hydrostatic end force, and to apply some additional "net stress" on the gasket.

The "M" value is used as a multiplier or maintenance factor. The design will be such that the flange and
bolting will hold the flanges together under pressure (the hydrostatic end force) and exert an additional
stress on the gasket of "M" multiplied by the internal pressure.

The designer calculates the load required to seat the gasket (related to "Y") and performs a second
calculation using the "M" value and the design internal pressure. The flanges are then built based on the
larger of the two calculated values.

M&Y Testing:

The previous ASTM M & Y test method (F 586), as well as the F3149-15 that replaced it, require
determination of the Y value with an internal pressure of 2 psig and the M value at 300 psig (since M factors
are related to OPERATING conditions). The new method was developed by the Gasket Committee of the
FSA (Fluid Sealing Association) and adopted by the ASTM F3 committee; Garlock assisted with these
efforts. In our opinion, the most important improvement with this new standard is the requirement that the
media and leak rate must be specified when publishing values. However, this reporting method is voluntary,
so the manufacturer may decide to not comply when publishing values for their products.

For the Y value, we increase the compressive load in steps and measure leakage at each step. In most
tests, we stop when we find the compressive stress that achieves the leak rate we have chosen as a
“maximum allowable leak rate” for that gasket. For the M value, the gasket is first compressed (at a stress
of 6770 psi) and then pressurized at 300 psig. The stress is LOWERED in steps until the gasket starts to
leak. Again, we have a defined leak rate we are looking for. Once the gasket leaks above that max rate, we

1666 Division Street • Palmyra, New York 14522 USA • 1-315-597-4811 • Toll Free:1-800-448-6688 • Fax:1-800-543-0598 •www.garlock.com
An EnPro Industries Company
record the last stress value BEFORE the leakage increased past our allowable. The reason the gasket is
loaded first is that the M value is used in the ASME calculations to determine the load needed AFTER the
gasket has already been installed and compressed in the flange

Comparing M&Y values from other manufacturers:

One very important note on M&Y values is that there have been no established rules to decide what values
to publish. A manufacturer could (and still can) publish numbers that are “found by experience to be
workable” or some companies simply used the old values for CAF (compressed asbestos fiber) found in the
ASME table of suggested values. But the issue is “when is the gasket considered to be sealed?” Garlock
has always used leak tests with nitrogen gas to determine our values, and we state what criteria we used to
decide that the values represented a reasonably tight seal. We state what the maximum allowable leak is in
our tests, and we chose a fairly tight seal.

Dave Burgess and Matt Tones


Senior Gasketing Application Engineers
Garlock Sealing Technologies
An Enpro Industries company
1666 Division St
Palmyra NY 14522
315-597-7350
[email protected]

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1666 1666 Division Street • Palmyra, New York 14522 USA • 1-315-597-4811 • Toll Free: 1-800-448-6688 • Fax: 1-315-597-3216 • www.garlock.net
An EnPro Industries Company

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