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CAESAR II Users Guide

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Expansion Joints
Checking the expansion joint box on the element enables definition of an expansion joint
for that element. Expansion joints can be modeled as a single element across the flexible
length of the joint or as a zero length element at the midpoint of the expansion joint.
Expansion joints elements have a zero-length if the Delta fields on the Pipe Element
spreadsheet are left blank or zero.

When an expansion joint has a defined length, CAESAR II builds the expansion joint as a
beam element using the element length with the entered expansion joint stiffnesses.

Four stiffness values define the expansion joint:

Axial

Transverse

Torsion

Bending

Examples of the Stiffnesses

Define Finite Length Joints

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For expansion joints where flexible length is defined, the bending stiffness is defined by the
entered, flexible, length and the transverse stiffness of the joint. Some expansion joint
catalogs list what would be called bending flexibility rather than the required bending
stiffness used in CAESAR II. This bending flexibility is adequate for an expansion joint
modeled by two rigid elements that are pinned at the joint midpoint (a zero-length
expansion joint) but it is the wrong value for a flexible beam element. To address this
ambiguity, CAESAR II calculates and applies a bending stiffness based on the entered
expansion joint length and transverse stiffness. We suggest that you only enter the
bending term from manufacturers' catalogs when using the zero-length expansion joint
model or for rubber joint which do not follow beam bending definitions.

Typically, expansion joint manufacturers do not supply torsional stiffness data. If the
manufacturer does not supply the data, enter a large torsional stiffness value, and verify
that the resulting load on the bellows is not excessive. When the piping system is tight, and
the diameter large, the magnitude of the large torsional stiffness can significantly affect the
magnitude of the torsion carried by the joints. For example, a stiffness of 100,000
in.lb./deg. and 1E12 in.lb./deg. can produce considerably different torsional load results.
Conservatively speaking, the tendency is to use the larger stiffness except that the
torsional stiffness value is probably closer to the 100,000 in.lb./deg. In instances where a
large torsional stiffness value is important, you can get a stiffness estimate from the
manufacturer, or use the equation below to derive an estimate. Use this equation to
conservatively estimate torsional loads on the bellows and surrounding equipment.

Where

p = 3.14159

Re = Expansion joint effective radius

t = Bellows thickness

E = Elastic Modulus

n = Poisson’s Ratio

L = Flexible bellows length

When the expansion joint has a zero length, none of the expansion joint
stiffnesses are related. You must be sure that you enter a value in all of the Stiffness
fields.

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Calculate the Pressure Thrust

CAESAR II calculates the pressure thrust on the expansion joint if you type a value for the
bellows Effective ID on the Expansion Joint auxiliary dialog box. If there is no Effective
ID specified, then there is no pressure thrust calculated.

The mathematical model for pressure thrust indicates to apply a force equal to the
pressure multiplied by the effective area of the bellows at the two nodes that define the
expansion joint. The force can open the bellows if the pressure is positive and close the
bellows if the pressure is negative.

This model does not correctly locate pressure load components in the vicinity of
the expansion joint. In most cases, the misapplied load does not affect the solution.

There are two components of the pressure thrust to apply in practice rather than the one
component applied in the model. The first component is equal to the pressure times the
inside area of the pipe and acts at the first change in direction of the pipe on either side of
the expansion joint. This load will tend to put the pipe wall between the change in direction
and the expansion joint in tension. The second component is equal to the pressure times
the difference between the bellows effective area and inside pipe area. This load acts at
the end of the expansion joint and tends to open the bellows up putting the pipe between
the expansion joint and the change in direction in compression.

In the mathematical model, the full component of the pressure thrust force is placed on the
ends of the bellows instead of having a portion shifted out on either side of the expansion
joint.

Effective ID
The pressure area used to set the pressure thrust force on an expansion joint is provided
by the expansion joint manufacturer either as an effective area or effective inside diameter
(ID). If the pressure thrust load is to be included in the analysis, the Effective ID must be
provided in the expansion joint model definition. Any load case that includes a pressure
term (for example, …+P1…) will include a thrust force on either end of the expansion joint
based on this effective ID.

Copyright
Copyright© Hexagon AB and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates. All rights reserved.

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