Tension Testing of Flexible Expansion Joints
Project Title: Tension Testing of Flexible Expansion Joints
Industry Partners: EBAA Iron, Inc.
CIEST Personnel: Hailey Parnell, Lindsay Guerrero, Bruce Lucero
Primary Investigator: Prof. Brad Wham
Year: 2020
Project Summary: The intent of the test program is to investigate the axial performance of a Flex-Tend Flexible Expansion Joint (FEJ) and a Force-Balanced FlexTend Flexible Expansion Joint (FBFEJ), each nominally 6-in. diameter. Externally applied axial tension load test results are compared to data obtained from internal pressure burst tests and demonstrate that, while similar levels of axial force are required to initiate component failure, the failure mechanisms differ and and influenced by the circumferential stress supplied during burst testing. The work was undertaken in the Center for Infrastructure, Energy, and Space Testing (CIEST) which is affiliated with the Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering Department at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Follow this link for the Report by H.L. Parnell, L. Guerrero, B.A. Lucero, and B.P. Wham.