Does anybody know of papers / references that would give specific details of guide loads adjacent to untied bellows.

In EJMA, guides are required within 4 and 14 D of the untied expansion joint to maintain stability. EJMA mentions loads on the supports of 7-15% of the pressure thrust.

EJMA does not say mention the alignment tolerances, type of bellows (rubber or metal) all of which will greatly affect the load on the first guide.

e.g.

"Support design loads of X % of pressure thrust assuming < Y % of Diameter axial misaligment of connecting pipes and < Z degrees of angular misalignment". We would want Y and Z to be very small but in a real world they won't be zero.

Many thanks

Andrew Weighell