calculate anchor loads with expansion joints

steel, copper, iron) will have different coefficients of expansion. PP, PVC, PE etc) and different types of metal pipe (e.g. The pipe material – different materials expand at different rates.The rate of thermal expansion usually depends on three key factors:

This is caused by the molecular structure expanding due to the increased kinetic energy at a higher temperature – causing the molecules to move around more. Pipes will generally expand when heated, and contract when cooled. Temperature changes cause an object or substance to change shape, area or volume. In this blog, we will take a look at some of the factors that need considering when dealing with thermal pipe expansion, and also look at the basics of how to calculate the rate of thermal expansion within pipe systems, which is crucial to working out what products are required to deal with the problem.īut first, here is a video that illustrates just how significant thermal expansion can be, as well as some of the ways to deal with it.

The forces created by the thermal expansion can be large enough to cause pipe bowing and buckling, damaged pumps, valves, pipe clamps and fixings and even fracturing of the pipe or damage to the steel or concrete structure of the building. Thermal expansion and contraction of pipework is one of the largest dynamic forces acting upon piped services.īecause piping systems often carry hot fluids, thermal expansion and the associated stresses must be carefully considered to avoid problems.

It is natural for materials to expand in the heat and contract in the cold, and pipes are not immune to nature’s laws.

Calculate anchor loads with expansion joints