摘要 |
A method to limit or exclude operational creep of the bolts and gaskets of Bolted Flanged Connections (BFCs) is disclosed. The method consists in the use of bolts and gaskets manufactured from the same Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) having temperature intervals of reverse martensitic phase transformation close to operational temperatures of the BFCs. These bolts and gaskets of the BFCs are shape-memorized to the compression (bolts) and "swelling" (gaskets) during (1) the formation of stress-induced martensite under temperature of martensite state of the SMAs while bolt preload application, or (2) during the formation of stress-induced martensite while loading-unloading previously stretched bolts and previously compressed gaskets under temperature of martensite state resulting in residual bolt elongations and residual gasket contraction followed by bolt preload application. Constrained shape recovery of initial length of the bolts and initial thickness of the gaskets under operational temperatures of the BFCs is accompanying by appearance of reactive shape-recovering stresses having direction inverse to the direction of operational creep of the bolts and gaskets that limits or excludes their operational creep.
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