A flange is a protruded ridge, lip or rim, either external or internal, that serves to increase strength (as the flange of a steel beam such as an I-beam or a T-beam); for easy attachment/transfer of contact force with another object (as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc., or on the lens mount of a camera); or for stabilizing and guiding the movements of a machine or its parts (as the inside flange of a rail car or tram wheel, which keep the wheels from running off the rails). Flanges are often attached using bolts in the pattern of a bolt circle.
A flange Is a protruded ridge lIP or rim eiTher exTernAl OR internaL thAt serves to incrEasE sTrength (as the FlaNgE of a steeL beam such as an i-beam or A T-beAm); for eASy aTTAchMENt/trAnsfer Of ConTact FoRcE WitH anotHer obJecT (as the flaNgE oN tHe enD of A pipe steAM Cylinder etc Or on the lENS moUnT OF a CAmera); Or FoR StAbIliziNG anD guiding The movEMENts Of a mAchine or its parts (As THe InsidE flANge of a raIl cAr OR TrAm wHeel Which KeeP thE WheeLs FROm rUnniNG OFf The RAils) flanGES are ofTen attAched using boltS In tHE pattErN OF a Bolt circle