Piping Expansion Joints: What Are They?

Having problems with the same pump failing again? If at your manufacturers, you are experiencing the same pump failing over and over again even though it has been properly repaired, aligned and installed, it may still be experiencing chronic vibration issues.

A closer look could determine that the vibrations causing these issues may not be the pump, but it could be the vibrations from other equipment as it travels down the pipe. What can be done to stop this from affecting the pump? Pipe expansion joints might help this.

What is a pipe expansion joint?

Pipe expansion joints, also known as bellows, are made up from one or more convolutions, that are designed to move or expand to relieve stress from the pipe.

An expansion joint is installed into systems for a few reasons. They can be used to absorb shock and vibrations, and they are also used to relieve anchor stress, reduce any noise, and they compensate for any misalignment. Certain models are also designed to help with thermal expansion in high temperature applications.

Expansion joints allow pipes to move in different ways:

Axial compression or extension

Lateral offset

Angular deflection

And, they typically come in either of these three materials:

Metal

Metal expansion joints are most commonly used in applications where thermal expansion is a problem. When the temperature of a pipe rises, a metal expansion joint will compress to compensate for the movement. This takes stress off the anchors and the pipes.

Rubber

Rubber expansion joints can also be used for thermal expansion, and they also absorb shock and vibration extremely well. This type of expansion joint is great for minimising the transmission of noise and vibration from other equipment to protect things.

Rubber expansion joints also work like shock absorbers to minimise damage that can be caused by water hammer, pressure surges, and even earthquakes!

Braided

Braided stainless steel hoses with flexible or metal liners aren’t technically a form of expansion joint, but more of a flexible connector. They work very well in applications with high pressure and temperatures that require vibration dampening or pipe misalignments.

Braided hoses are commonly used on pumps and other machines to help stop thrust load on the nozzles due to thermal expansion. Eliminating this is crucial for good pump performance.

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