LATERAL EXPANSION JOINTS

Lateral movement is movement perpendicular to the bellow’s longitudinal axis. Thermal movement in pipeline occurred in two directions can be absorbed by using Lateral Expansion Joints. Universal tied expansion joints are made up of two bellows connected each other by an intermediate pipe and a system of tie rods able to withstand the thrust resulted of the internal pressure (restrained).

The absorption capacity of lateral expansion joints depend on the convolution number of the bellows on each side of the expansion joint. This amount can also be increased by changing the length of the intermediate pipe. The tie rods are also effective to prevent possible torsion forces.