TIE RODS, HINGES AND SIMILAR ACCESSORIES

In a piping system containing Expansion Joints, it is frequently impractical to use main

anchors to absorb the pressure thrust or to transmit this force to the connected equipment. In
such cases, the proper use of tied, hinged, or gimbal Expansion Joints can solve the problem.
The use of such Expansion Joints requires that the tie rods, hinges or gimbals and their
attachment to the piping be properly designed to absorb the imposed forces.
FORCES AND LOADS
The thrust absorbing members of an Expansion Joint are normally designed to
restrain only the pressure thrust developed within the piping system and the force
required to compress or extend the bellows due to thermal growth.
If other forces are to be considered in the Expansion Joint design, this fact, along
with information regarding the magnitude and direction of these forces, must be
provided to the Expansion Joint designer. The additional forces to be considered
may include the following:
a. Unsupported weight of connecting pipe and insulation between a
pair of
bellows.
b. Weight of contained fluid under operation arid/or test conditions.
c. Wind, earthquake and/or impact loads.
d. Torsion about the longitudinal axis.
The effects of temperature and flow conditions (transient and steady state)
must be accounted for in conjunction with the above forces and loads.
METHODS OF ATTACHMENT
Tie rods, hinges or gimbals are attached to the pipe in two basic ways:
a. By structures whose primary functions are to transmit the loads to the pipe.
b. By direct attachment to pipe flanges in the piping run. In this method, the
load
is transmitted from the tie rods, hinges or gimbals to the connecting pipe
through the flange bolts and mating flange.
DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
TIE RODS, HINGES AND GIMBALS
The major design factors to be considered are:
a. TIE RODS Tensile and/or compressive forces due to pressure thrust and
other longitudinally applied loads; the bending stresses resulting from
connecting the tie rod to its attachment; the stress concentration effects in
threaded areas. For
general structural rigidity to withstand extraneous loads during handling and
installation, it is recommended that minimum tie rod diameters as a function
of the size of the expansion joint be in accordance with Figure 9.2.
b. HINGES Hinge plate tensile and/or compressive forces due to pressure
thrust and other longitudinally applied loads; bending forces such as those
resulting
from weight loads or torsion applied about the longitudinal axis of the
expansion joint; shear and bearing forces at the hinge pin hole. Evaluation of
the shear,
bearing and bending forces in the hinge pin itself is also required. The
bending and shear effects in the hinge plates and pins are significantly

different depending on whether the hinge design places the pins in single or
double shear. A double shear arrangement is recommended for all but very
low loads.