2010 SECTION VIII, DIVISION 2
4-418
g) Longitudinal weld seams that comply with paragraphs 4.19.9 and 4.19.10 shall be considered to have a
joint efficiency of 1.0.
h) The elastic moduli, yield strength, and allowable stresses shall be taken at the design temperatures.
However, when performing the fatigue evaluation in accordance with 4.19.5.7 (unreinforced bellows),
4.19.6.7 (reinforced bellows) and 4.19.7.7 (toroidal bellows), it is permitted to use the operating metal
temperature instead of design temperature.
4.19.3.2 Fatigue
a) Cumulative Damage – If there are two or more types of stress cycles, which produce significant
stresses, their cumulative effect shall be evaluated as given below.
1) Designate the specified number of times each type of stress cycle of types 1, 2, 3, etc., will be
repeated during the life of the expansion joint as
123
, , nnn, etc., respectively. When determining
123
, , nnn, etc., consideration shall be given to the superposition of cycles of various origins, which
produce a total stress difference range greater than the stress difference ranges of the individual
cycles. For example, if one type of stress cycle produces 1000 cycles of a stress difference
variation from zero to +60,000 psi and another type of stress cycle produces 10,000 cycles of a
stress difference variation from zero to -50,000 psi, the two types of cycles to be considered are
defined by the following parameters:
i) Type 1 cycle:
11
1000; 60000 50000 110,000
t
nS psi==+−=
ii) Type 2 cycle:
22
10000 1000 9000; 0 50000 50,000
t
nS psi=−= =+−=
2) For each value
t1
S ,
t2
S ,
t3
S , etc., use the applicable design fatigue curve to determine the
maximum number of repetitions which would be allowable if this type of cycle were the only one
acting. Call these values
123
, , NN N, etc.
3) For each type of stress cycle, calculate the usage factors
1
U ,
2
U ,
3
U etc., from
111 2 22 3 33
,,UnNUnNUnN== =, or for the ith cycle:
i
i
i
n
U
N
=
(4.19.1)
4) Calculate the cumulative usage factor
U by summing the individual factors, or
123
...
m
UU U U U=++++.
5) The cumulative usage factor
U for the total number of stress cycles, m , shall not exceed 1.0, or
11
1.0
mm
i
i
ii
i
n
U
N
==
=≤
∑∑
(4.19.2)
b) Fatigue Correlation Testing – In complying with the requirements of paragraph 4.19.5.7 (unreinforced
bellows), paragraph 4.19.6.7 (reinforced bellows), or paragraph 4.19.7.7 (toroidal bellows) the
calculation and relation to fatigue life may be performed by any method based on the theory of elasticity.
However, the method must be substantiated by correlation with proof or strain gage testing (see Annex
5.E) on a consistent series of bellows of the same basic design (annealed, and as formed bellows are
considered as separate designs) by the bellows Manufacturer to demonstrate predictability of rupture
pressure and cyclic life.