A study of neighbouring tube expansion effect on the residual contact pressure of tube-to-tubesheet joints

This study analyses the elasto-plastic behaviour of a central tube when the surrounding tubes are subjected to hydraulic expansion in turns in a simulated tube-to-tubesheet joint assembly using the numerical FEM. Neighbouring tube expansion, expansion order sequence and ligament efficiency are found to have a major influence on the residual contact pressure. Such a study provides general guidelines on how to control the expansion process and help optimize the residual contact pressure.