Bolts

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Overview of Bolts

A Bolt is a threaded fastener that has an external male thread used in conjunction with nuts to attach separate pieces of equipment together. Bolts are often used to hold together sections of pipelines, piping, boilers or other equipment. In industrial applications it is extremely important for bolts to be tightened properly and inspected regularly. Because bolt failure can lead to significant process safety incidents, operators should take measures to ensure they have implemented an effective joint integrity management program.

ASME PPC-1 provides guidelines for pressure boundary bolted flange joint assemblies and can be used to develop joint assembly procedures for a broad range of services.

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Articles about Bolts

Inspection and Best Practice in Single Stud Replacement

May/June 2021 Inspectioneering Journal

A safety-focused mindset and awareness of the dangers associated with the process, environment, and associated tasks through planning and execution is essential for the safe completion of a single stud replacement campaign.

Authors: Thomas Lamb, Ian Thompson

3rd Party Joint Integrity Inspections: Compliance and Leak Free Facilities

July/August 2015 Inspectioneering Journal

With the increasing demand for oil, gas, and petrochemical products in a highly competitive market, products and services irrespective of their origin must satisfy customer quality requirements. Additionally, the needs to ensure quality control and...

Authors: Neil Ferguson

Cyclic Stresses and Bolt Behavior

Blog

One problem that nearly everyone in the industry has experienced is where, in certain situaions, a tight bolt will perform correctly while a loose bolt will fail. This happens because of two fundamental types of loading that a bolt may encounter:...

The Pathway to ASME PCC-1 2013 Appendix A Compliance and its Critical Importance

May/June 2014 Inspectioneering Journal

In November 2013, ASME released its updated PCC-1 guidelines for pressure boundary bolted flange joint assemblies. Contained within the document is Appendix A, which represents a major change from the previous 2010 release and is considered to be...

Authors: Neil Ferguson

Best Practices of a Joint Integrity Program

March/April 2014 Inspectioneering Journal

Joint integrity programs (JIP) should be an integral part of every refinery, petrochemical, production, or other industrial-complex facility operations.

Authors: Neil Ferguson

Have you determined whether or not your equipment is subject to Brittle Fracture?

Partner Content

Auto-refrigeration can impose low temperatures onto process vessels and piping causing them to be at risk of brittle fracture, the sudden break-before leak phenomena that can result in catastrophic rupture of the equipment.

New Standards for Quality Control and Assurance of Bolted Flanges

January/February 2014 Inspectioneering Journal

If necessity is the mother of invention, then the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are the parents of guidelines, standards,...

Authors: Neil Ferguson

Bolt Behavior: Part 3

May/June 2011 Inspectioneering Journal

In two previous issues we discussed the important difference between steady and cyclic loading, and why loose bolts fail while tight ones do not. This issue will offer two suggestions for reducing the tendency for bolts to become loose.

Authors: Del Underwood

Bolt Behavior: Part 2

March/April 2011 Inspectioneering Journal

In the previous issue we dealt with the fact that bolts can withstand significantly less cyclic loading than steady loading. We are now looking at the mechanics of why bolts fail if flanges are allowed to separate during operation.

Authors: Del Underwood

Bolt Behavior: Part 1

January/February 2011 Inspectioneering Journal

A continually frustrating phenomenon to many of us is the situation where a tight bolt will function satisfactorily, but in the same situation, a loose bolt will fail...

Authors: Del Underwood

Obtaining Leak Free Bolted Joint Operation by Returning to Basics

September/October 2009 Inspectioneering Journal

Leakage of pressure vessel and piping bolted joints in refineries is an unnecessary hazard, with high associated cost, that can be easily rectified using currently available technology. There have been advances in gasket testing technology in recent...

Authors: Warren Brown, Wayne McKenzie, Shane Ryan

Pro-Surve Technical Services deploys HOMC Guided Wave Testing using Isonics

Partner Content

Pro-Surve recently invested in the latest portable Higher Order Modes Clusters (HOMC) Guided Wave Testing tool, a new concept for the inspection of inaccessible regions using short-range guided waves. Inspection is carried out from the accessible...

Bolt Behavior No 3

May/June 1999 Inspectioneering Journal

Authors: Del Underwood

Bolt Behavior No. 2

January/February 1999 Inspectioneering Journal

In the previous issue, we dealt with the fact that bolts can withstand significantly less cyclic loading then steady loading. We are now looking at the mechanics of why bolts fail if flanges are allowed to separate during operation.

Authors: Del Underwood

Downloads & Resources related to Bolts

The 101 Essential Elements in a Pressure Equipment Integrity Management Program

eBook

This publication outlines 101 Essential Elements that need to be in place and functioning well in order to effectively and efficiently preserve and protect the reliability and integrity of pressure equipment (i.e. vessels, exchangers, furnaces,...

News related to Bolts

API Releases New Guidance on Selecting Bolting Materials

News

The American Petroleum Institute has published a new technical report offering guidance to O&G companies on selecting the right materials for bolting, a key to safe and reliable operations.

Becht Pono Corrosion & Materials Expertise

Partner Content

Becht’s industry-leading Corrosion and Metallurgical experts are here to help with significant owner-operator experience covering the refining, petrochemical and chemical industries. This expertise is leveraged to help our clients become more...

Bolts

Overview of Bolts

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