Finite Element Analysis For Compensator Reinforced By Wire Cloth

Compensator reinforced by wire cloth is an important component for flexible connectivity and compensation. Its reliable sealing, pressure resistant and flexibility and fatigue resistance, and many other excellent performance makes it an indispensable component widely used in petroleum, chemical, electric power, nuclear energy, aerospace and other fields. Because of its great flexibility, compensator reinforced by wire cloth is mainly used in pipe joints, to compensate assembling error, axial, lateral, angular thermal deformation and reducing noise and vibration at the same time.Compensator reinforced by wire cloth consists of bellows and wire cloth.In this paper, firstly, we developed the experimental research to the tensile mechanical properties of woven wire cloth and established a finite element analysis model with two methods, and then the experimental results and finite element analysis results are compared to prove the reliability of finite element analysis. Secondly, we established the parameterized finite element of bellows with shell element and calculated its mechanical properties. Based on these, compensator reinforced by wire cloth was analyzed using coupling theory considering the interaction between bellows and wire cloth. The failure mode of compensator under different load cases was assessed. At last, established the finite element model of pipes with two compensators and calculated the compensating volume at different directions. Geometric and material nonlinearity was considered in the analysis.In order to facilitate the engineering applications, we simplified bellows to the equivalent straight pipe, and derived compensating volume of pipes with two compensators based on Castigliano theorem.