Effect of Al cover thickness on contact stress of Al-NiTi gasket using FEM

The contact stress distributions of Al-NiTi gaskets were studied in flange joints with different aluminum cover thickness using finite element analysis (ABAQUS), and the conclusions were compared with that of spiral-wound gasket and NiTi gasket. The results show that gasket contact stress decreases with increasing thickness of the cover. Contact stresses fluctuate along the radial direction after gaskets are covered with aluminum sheet, and the range of fluctuation enlarges with the increasing thickness of the cover. Contact stress at the edge of Al-NiTi gasket increases sharply, and thin cover results in higher increment, which is benefit for sealing performance of the gasket. When the thickness of aluminum cover is 0.2 mm, gasket contact stress is reasonable, even beyond the stress of NiTi gasket or spiral-wound gasket.