F.

E ANALYSIS OF TRI-CLAMP

OBJECTIVE OF STUDY:
The Tri-Clamp will be used under ASME VIII-1 service. This product cannot be calculated to
code rules due to the complexity of its geometry. Instead the rules of ASME VIII-2 are used with
ASME VIII-1 allowable stresses to determine its acceptability. Pressure inside the shell is 1500
psi and the model is restrained by applying a fixed support at the clamp.

INTRODUCTION:
Clamp Fittings:
A connection is made up of a plain ferrule, a clamp, and a gasket. Tees, elbows and reducers are
available with Tri-Clamp connections. All three styles are in compliance with 3A standards for
C.I.P. (clean in place).
The three types of clamp fittings are designed for use in Food, Dairy, Pharmaceutical and
Chemical Industries.

Tri-Clamp connections are the industry standard, having nueter-style ferrules to simplify
design and installation.
H-Line and HDI-Line male/female ferrules self-align during tightening so joints are
quick and easy to assemble or take apart.
H-Line uses the same series of clamps as the Tri-Clamp

INPUT DATA:
Material strength properties used in this report are obtained from ASME IID, Table 1A, and are
suitable for VIII-1 components. The rules of ASME VIII-2 are used to set the stress limits.

Fig 1- Tri- Clamp Assembly

1) Clamp, 2) Ferrule, 3) Bolt, 4) Nut

GEOMETRIC MODELING DATA:

Fig 2- Different section view of the Tri-Clamp

Table1: List of material used for Tri-Clamp

METHODOLOGY:

Creating a CAD Model

Importing CAD Model &

Analysis

Static- Structural Analysis

Meshing
Applying boundary conditions
and pressure on the inner shell.
Solve.
Results

CREATING A CAD MODEL :

CATIA (Computer

Aided

platform CAD/CAM/CAE

Three-dimensional
commercial software

Interactive

Application)

suite developed

by

is
the

multiFrench

company Systems. CATIA is the cornerstone of the Dassault Systems product lifecycle
management software suite.
The CAD model has been created in the workbench of the CATIA v5 software
according to the dimensions

Fig 3: CAD model of Tri-Clamp

MESHING:
ANSYS is a general purpose finite element modeling package for numerically solving a wide
variety of mechanical problems, used widely in industry to simulate the response of a physical
system to structural loading, and thermal and electromagnetic effects. ANSYS uses the finiteelement method to solve the underlying governing equations and the associated problemspecific boundary conditions.
The CAD model is export to ANSYS by saving the cad model as .STP format.

MESHING THE GEOMETRIC MODEL:

The meshing of geometry was performed in ANSYS and as discussed earlier in the methodology.
The meshing is carried out by using 3D tetrahedral elements having global mesh size of 1 inch,
corresponding mesh details are as discussed below.

Fig 4: Tri-Clamp after Meshing

Boundary conditions and loads:

Boundary conditions and loads are applied on the system as indicated below.

As per the problem statement the pressure force of 1500 psi is applied on the inner shell.
Fixed support is applied on the one end of shaft which is connected to the motor.

For Static- Structural Analysis:

Apply fixed support at one end of the shaft which is connected to the motor as shown below:
As per the problem statement the pressure force of 1500 psi is applied on the inner shell.

Fig 5: Applying Boundary conditions and Fixed support

Solution:

After applying boundary conditions and rotational velocity, the system is tuned for solution
where the software solves using mathematical models and differential equations.

Static structural Analysis:

Von-Mises stress:
The maximum equivalent Von-Mises stress value of Tri-Clamp is 13885 Psi and
minimum is 9.1717 Psi.

Fig 6: Von-Mises stress distribution along Tri-Clamp

Total Deformation:
The maximum total deformation value of Tri-Clamp is 0.00043443 inch and minimum
is 0 inch.

Fig 7: Total Deformation along Tri-Clamp

Conclusions:
7

1. The equivalent von-mises stress distribution is obtained.

2. The maximum equivalent von mises stress obtained is 13885 Psi which is less than the
Permissible stress value of Clamps & Pipe caps 14800 Psi. Also less than permissible
stress value of bolts 25000 Psi.
3. The max deformation obtained is 0.00043443 inch.