Stress and Deflection Studies of Flat-Plate and Toroidal Expansion Bellows, Subjected to Axial, Eccentric or Internal Pressure Loading

Abstract

Tests in axial compression, eccentric (hinge) loading and internal pressure are described for corrugated-pipe and flat-plate bellows. Strain gauge surveys and deflection readings were made for each test. A recently developed theory for the small elastic deflection of toroidal elements is briefly described and its application to a wide range of bellows shapes and loadings is discussed. For some flat-plate bellows, where the depth of convolution is much smaller than the overall radius of the bellows, an approximate theory neglecting circumferential effects is possible, and comparison is made between this approximate and the more exact theory. Both theory and experiment show that the location of the maximum stresses depends markedly upon the proportions of the bellows. General bellows design and construction problems are examined in the light of the stresses likely to be caused by actual service conditions of operation.