The Milestone Gasket Test Program is part of the Long Range Flanged Joint Improvement Program of the Pressure Vessel Research Committee. In these tests complex load/pressure sequences are used to determine leakage performance and deformation response at room temperature of four types of gaskets: (a) A Spiral-Wound asbestos-filled gasket with an outer compression ring; (b) A Compressed-Asbestos gasket with a rubber binding; (c) A flat stainless-steel Doubled-Jacketed asbestos-filled gasket; and (d) A soft-iron Oval-Ring joint gasket.

This paper presents an overview of the test program, provides details on the test set-up, test procedure, leak rate determination, etc. It also presents some typical results of tests carried out under stress-controlled conditions using Nitrogen at pressures up to 2000 psi (13.8 MPa).

The analysis of the results is carried out in terms of the "Tightness Factor," Lp, which lumps pressure and leak rate into a single parameter. Regression analysis results are presented for tests involving flange facing surface finishes ranging from 32 to 1000 micro-in. AARH (0.81-25.4 micro-m).

As the test program nears completion and further analyses are performed, more results will be published. It is anticipated that the main parameters affecting gasket performance will be identified which will serve as a basis for defining a simplified production test procedure. More meaningful gasket design factors should thus be forthcoming.