How an Expansion Joint Works
During operation, various types of movements occur in the pipelines. An expansion joint is a structural element which elastically and tightly connects two ends of a pipe and allows movement to prevent any deformations.
Types of expansion joints by their ability to eliminate adverse movements
Axial
Lateral
Angular
Universal
Vibration absorbers
Criteria for selection and design of expansion joints
medium
temperature
pressure
movements
medium flow velocity
proportion of solid parts in the medium
place of installation
The main applications in piping systems are:
elimination of thermal expansion
elimination of assembly inaccuracies
suppression of vibrations and oscillations
Comparison of Expansion Joints
| Properties | Fabric Expansion Joints | Metal Expansion Joints | Rubber Expansion Joints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ability to capture multidimensional movements | Yes | No | No |
| Flexibility | High | Low | Low |
| Reaction forces | Low | High | High |
| Weight | Low | High | High |
| Difficulty of assembly | Low | High | High |
| Complexity of piping construction | Low | High | High |
| Ability to capture high operating pressure | No | Yes | Yes |
| Suitability for liquid and gaseous media | No | Yes | Yes |
| Smoke-tightness | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gas-tightness | No | Yes | Yes |
| Physiological inertness | No | Yes | Yes |
| Non-flammability | No | Yes | Yes |
| Maintenance-free operation | No | Yes | Yes |
| Excellent suppression of vibrations | No | No | Yes |