Method for installing flange connections, use of a bolt tensioning device, computer program product, use of a computer program product and storage medium

A method for installing flange connection, wherein the flange connection has at least one first flange, a second flange and a number of bolt systems, wherein the at least one first flange has a plurality of first flange recesses and the second flange has a plurality of second flange recesses, wherein the plurality of first flange recesses are aligned to the plurality of second flange recesses, wherein the number of bolt systems each have at least one bolt, a nut and an abutment, the method comprising:

• a. determining flange parameters of the at least one first flange and the second flange;
• b. analytically determining a bolt system-typical elongation behavior, determining an axial stiffness for the at least one bolt and determining an axial stiffness of a flange body formed by applying an installation pre-tensioning force to the at least one bolt to mechanically connect the at least one first flange and the second flange to each other;
• c. analytically and/or numerically analyzing for maximally permissible gap dimensions, so that a fatigue impairment to the number of bolt systems in consideration of a specific boundary condition does not exceed a defined total impairment;
• d. analytically determining an overall stiffness of the flange body considering the determined maximally permissible gap dimensions and the installation pre-tensioning force;
• e. introducing at least one bolt system of the number of bolt systems into a corresponding first flange recess of the plurality of first flange recesses and a corresponding second flange recess of the plurality of second flange recesses that are aligned with each other;
• f. determining a reached overall stiffness of the flange body;
• g. comparing the reached overall stiffness to the determined overall stiffness;
• and
• h. tightening the nut of the at least one bolt system with an installation tensioning force when the reached overall stiffness is larger than or equal to the overall stiffness.