The design rules below apply to the strength verification of circular flanges of pressure vessels made of steel, cast steel, grey cast iron and nonferrous metals up to an internal diameter of 3600 mm.
Additional loads due to thermal influences, e.g. local or temporary thermal gradients, different thermal expansion coefficients and external forces (e.g. from connecting pipe work) are not exhaustively covered by this AD 2000-Merkblatt and shall be considered separately if required (see also 8.2 and AD 2000-Merkblatt B 7, 7.1.2).