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Dive deeper into Piping Tech’s thorough expansion joint cycle test as we show an actual demonstration of our expansion joint testing process.

Expansion Joint Cycle Testing

June 18, 2019

Dive deeper into Piping Tech’s thorough expansion joint cycle test as we show an actual demonstration of our expansion joint testing process.

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The burst test is primarily conducted on bellows. Normally, hydraulic pressure is slowly increased until failure occurs. Based on the burst test results, a safety factor is applied. This establishes the ultimate pressure rating.

Burst Testing
Burst Testing

How do you perform a burst test?

December 1, 2010

The burst test is primarily conducted on bellows. Normally, hydraulic pressure is slowly increased until failure occurs. Based on the burst test results, a safety factor is applied. This establishes the ultimate pressure rating.

Burst Testing
Burst Testing
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The objective of the burst test is to determine the ultimate pressure resistance. This test is primarily conducted on bellows. Normally, hydraulic pressure is slowly increased until failure occurs. Based on the burst test results, a safety factor is applied. This establishes the ultimate pressure rating.

Burst Testing
Burst Testing

What is burst testing?

The objective of the burst test is to determine the ultimate pressure resistance. This test is primarily conducted on bellows. Normally, hydraulic pressure is slowly increased until failure occurs. Based on the burst test results, a safety factor is applied. This establishes the ultimate pressure rating.

Burst Testing
Burst Testing
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The spring rate is equal to the spring rate of both flow bellows plus the spring rate of the balancing bellows.

Pic 001 1
Elbow Pressure Balanced Pipe Expansion Joint

When cycle testing, the length of stroke is from neutral position to the compressed movement and back to neutral position of the expansion joint.

Fatigue test
Fatigue Test

Regarding the operating temperature, we design metal pipe expansion joints up to 2000° F with refractory and 1000° F to 1500° F without refractory.

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Metallic Expansion Joint

We do not air test fabric expansion joints; all welds are liquid penetrant tested.

Dye pen test
Dye Penetrant Test

We perform EJMA calculations.

Fatigue test
Fatigue Test

Dye-penetrant tests should be performed in order to check the integrity of the welds. At U.S. Bellows, all bellows undergo a dye-penetrant examination before being shipped to the customer.

Dye pen test
Dye Penetrant Test

No, it is the total of the spring rates of all three bellows.

36 pressure balanced elbow expansion joints
36″ Pressure Balanced Elbow Pipe Expansion Joint

 

At U.S. Bellows, we perform a variety of tests:

  • Burst Testing – The objective of the burst test is to determine the ultimate pressure resistance. Primarily conducted on bellows. Normally, hydraulic pressure is slowly increased until failure occurs.
  • Dye Penetration Testing – Liquid dye is used to locate leaks or cracks in the bellows.
  • Hydro Testing – Bellows are pressurized for 30 minutes to locate leaks or cracks. 

     

    Burst test gauge
    Burst Testing

What are the quality tests that are conducted on expansion joints?

At U.S. Bellows, we perform a variety of tests:

  • Burst Testing – The objective of the burst test is to determine the ultimate pressure resistance. Primarily conducted on bellows. Normally, hydraulic pressure is slowly increased until failure occurs.
  • Dye Penetration Testing – Liquid dye is used to locate leaks or cracks in the bellows.
  • Hydro Testing – Bellows are pressurized for 30 minutes to locate leaks or cracks. 

     

    Burst test gauge
    Burst Testing
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Expansion joints are maintenance-free. They can only be tested if the expansion joint is supplied with 2-ply testable bellows using vacuum or air pressure testing.

Number6
Air Pressure Test on a Metallic Expansion Joint

Cracks on a fatigue testing machine are detected by the loss of internal pressure that is shown pressure gauge on the machine.

Fatigue test
Fatigue Test

For pneumatic testing, air is used as the medium for testing and for helium testing they use helium, and the cost for helium is much higher.

Helium Leak Test
Helium Leak Test

burst test is performed under controlled conditions and pressure is applied over a period of one to two hours using the necessary safety precautions for all personnel involved.

Burst test gauge
Burst Testing

Blotting on a dye-penetrant test typically indicates a crack in the weld. Therefore, the crack would be repaired and the test performed once again.

Dye pen test
Dye Penetrant Test

The bellows is placed on a test machine and allowed to cycle continually until the bellows fail.

Fatigue test
Fatigue Test