Thermal Stresses in Gas Turbine Exhaust Duct Expansion Joints

This paper discusses the methods used to derive an improved design for gas turbine exhaust duct expansion joints. Typically these joints are subjected to very rapid increase in internal exhaust gas temperatures that result in large temperature differentials within the joint structures. The thermal gradients can cause stress levels in excess of yield and when the turbine is used intermittently, such as peaking power units would be, the net result is crack propagation and gas leakage.Copyright © 1996 by ASME