Finite Element Analysis on Flexible Flange Joint of Steel Tubular Structure

Flange joints are common in electric transmission steel tube tower.Flange with stiffening rib usually used, whose structure is complicated and do not meet the economic requirements, but flexible flanges make up the shortcoming in a certain state.So strength of flexible flanges subjected to axial force is studied by a program of finite element simulation analysis, which considered contact nonlinear problem of the bolt and flange.Then the influences of distance between bolts and tube, distance between bolts and edge of flanges, thickness of flanges, bolt number and bolt pretension on bearing capacity of flexible flange are investigated.Next the comparison of model test and finite element simulation analysis show the model accuracy.Finally, through analyzing of different simulation results, it turns out that the model has an adequate safety reserve and The variation of model parameters, such as distance between bolts and edge of flanges, thickness of flanges, bolt number and bolt pretension, can improve bearing capacity of flexible flange which provides a reference for application to the project.