MACROFLEX

CALCULATING COLD-PULL DIMENSIONS

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Free length LV

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Installation length Lm

In order to make maximum use of the total movement available in any bellow, it is correct to install
the unit into the piping system pre-stretched to use its full compression potential. The degree
of stretching is termed its cold- pull or sprung dimension. Knowing the anticipated maximum (tmax) and minimum (tmin) operating temperatures is vital to make suitable provision for thermal
expansion at installation (tmon).
=

tmon - tmin

- (
).
tmax - tmin
2

tmin tmon tmax

(mm)

COLD-PULL
(+) extension, (-) compression

(mm)

total movement of axial

expansion joint

Lv (mm)

free length of expansion joint

(delivery lenght)

Lm (mm)

installation length
(pre-stretched)

Installation length of expansion joint

Lm = Lv + (mm)
Design of pipe line fixed points and guides
When axial expansion joints are used the essential parts of pipe line are fixed points (FP), axial guides
(G) and planar guides (P).
Design, basic conditions and fixed points significance is described above.

Guides
The guides do not only support the pipework, but also maintain the correct alignment, so that the Expansion Joint works adequately.
The positioning of the guides in accordance with the rules detailed further on, will prevent buckling of
the line due to the flexibility of the expansion joint.

1.20

MACROFLEX

In principle we can divide the guides into two large groups. Those for strictly axial guiding and those
which will also allow movement in a plane perpendicular to the axial movement.
The axial guides, besides guiding and supporting the weight of the pipework can withstand a lateral
thrust of app. 15% of the axial thrust. It is advantageous if the first two guides immediatelly adjacent to
the Expansion Joint are concentric with the pipe.

w
(less value is valid)
2

L 1

min 4 x DN or 2 x DN +

L 2

14 x DN

L3

has to be calculated by project engineer

L1

PB

L1

Legend:
w
pipe movement
DN nominal diameter

L2

L3

1.21