Chapter 9 - Specialty Components

Abstract

This chapters covers specialty components in piping, with a focus on expansion joints and anchor flanges. Expansion joints are used to compensate for thermal expansion and there are two types: a slip joint and a bellows. The slip joint has fallen out of favor and the bellows expansion joint is used most often in current work. This chapter covers the different expansion joint types and bellows configurations and reviews the standards and calculations that are used to manufacture and test bellows to ensure the stresses are within the acceptable ranges. Anchor flanges are covered as well later in the chapter, with a review of the computations and standards that are used to determine the stresses that arise from their use. The chapter concludes with a look at blocks for anchor flanges, including a look at how soil conditions play a role in their design and the other elements that must be determined.