Fabric Expansion JointThe maximum pressure for fabric expansion joints is 100 inches of water or 3 PSIG. (pounds per square inch)
What is the maximum pressure for a fabric expansion joint?
July 31, 1990
Tag: faq
Are neoprene and rubber expansion joints good for high temperature apps (600 deg. F)?
These expansion joints are not a good solution for high-temperature applications. The neoprene tends to burn at approximately 250 deg. F.
How many layers are in a non-metallic expansion joint?
The number of layers or plies is dependent upon the design conditions and we usually limit non-metallic expansion joints to two or three layers.
Do you manufacture fabric joints in any other material beside PTFE?
We do manufacture fabric expansion joints with other types of materials if the customer specifies it. Please see some of the materials here:
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For rubber bellows in CAESAR, do we need to specify any stiffness, since it is typically low?
Yes, the rubber expansion joints do have spring rates and that are required to be input into the stress model.
Do externally pressurized bellows need anchors for thrust load?
Yes, an externally pressurized expansion joint requires that the piping system be anchored.
What is the max axial deflection you can get on 8″ externally pressurized expansion joint?
We can allow for a total of 16″ of axial compression with a double x-flex expansion joint with an intermediate anchor base that will allow 8 inches of axial compression on either side of the anchor base.
Can we use the externally pressurized expansion joint in a floating roof fuel tank rain drain system?
You can use externally pressurized expansion joints in this application provided that the piping is anchored, supported, and guided correctly.
What’s the typical spring rate for a 20″ pressure balanced expansion joint?
The spring rate is equal to the spring rate of both flow bellows plus the spring rate of the balancing bellows.
What are the different types of expansion joints?
In general, there are fabric, metallic, and rubber expansion joints. At U.S. Bellows, we manufacture:
- Single Expansion Joints
- Hinged Expansion Joints
- Gimbal Expansion Joints
- Universal Expansion Joints
- Elbow Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints
- In-line Pressure Balanced Expansion Joints
- Externally Pressurized Expansion Joints
- Toroidal Expansion Joints
- Thick Wall Expansion Joints
- Slip-type Expansion Joints
- Rectangular Metallic Expansion Joints
- Refractory Lined Expansion Joints
* Rubber (Neoprene) Expansion Joints
When cycle testing an expansion joint, what was the length of the stroke?
When cycle testing, the length of stroke is from neutral position to the compressed movement and back to neutral position of the expansion joint.
What is the maximum operating temperature range that expansion joints can be exposed to?
Regarding the operating temperature, we design metal pipe expansion joints up to 2000° F with refractory and 1000° F to 1500° F without refractory.
What acceptance criteria do you use for air testing the fabric expansion joints?
We do not air test fabric expansion joints; all welds are liquid penetrant tested.
Why should we do a dye-penetrant 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.
For an inline pressure balanced expansion joint, overall speaking, is it equivalent to a simple expansion joint without thrust force?
No, it is the total of the spring rates of all three bellows.
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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 Testing
How do you service test an expansion joint?
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.
How do you detect a crack in a fatigue testing machine?
Cracks on a fatigue testing machine are detected by the loss of internal pressure that is shown pressure gauge on the machine.
What is the difference between pneumatic testing and helium testing?
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.
