Section Three: Joints

SPIRALWELD PIPE

AMERICAN offers a variety of steel pipe joints to meet the designers needs, allowing the designer
to select the most effective joint type(s) for the projects installation and performance requirements.
The joint type is generally identified as one of the following: field welded, bell and spigot O-ring
gasket, flange, or coupling.

Field Welded Joints

Field welded joints are available for all diameters and wall thicknesses of AMERICAN pipe. These
joints are generally used where restraint of longitudinal thrust is required for buried pipe. In
addition, some specifiers prefer to use field welded joints throughout an entire piping system in
lieu of a system including both gasketed and welded joints.
Field welded joints do not allow for in-service flexibility, but they can accommodate, during
installation, deflections that are generally larger than those for O-ring gasket joints. Field welded
joints can be supplied as bell and spigot lap type, butt strap type, and butt weld type.
Requirements for field welded joints are defined in the AWWA standard for field welding, C206.
Although each joint type employs welding in some manner, the manufacturing process, assembly,
and performance limitations differ.

Lap Weld (24 - 144)

The bell and spigot lap weld joint has a proven performance history

in steel pipe. It is an economical method for restraining longitudinal

thrust in buried pipes. Lap weld joints can be configured for welding

inside only, outside only, or both when design conditions dictate.

A single full fillet weld is adequate for restraint of longitudinal thrust

forces due to internal pressure. Conditions involving other longitudinal

forces such as from thermal stress, Poissons ratio of hoop stress, or

bending stress require additional consideration. Consult an AMERICAN

representative when presented with such conditions.
The joint can be configured for welding after backfill of the installed pipe. This configuration is
generally used for joints employing a single inside fillet weld. The installation of pipe, exterior joint
wrapping, and trench backfilling can progress uninterrupted by the welding process, which takes
place after consolidated fill has been placed to at least one foot over the top of the pipe. This
process improves installation efficiency and reduces project costs. It also significantly reduces the
level of longitudinal thermal stress in the steel cylinder, as the steel can achieve thermal equilibrium

with the surrounding soil prior to welding. The weld after backfill method can be employed on
joints requiring a fillet weld both inside and outside, but the cost benefit is less significant and the
reduction in thermal stress would not be achieved.
Lap weld joints offer flexibility for varying installation conditions. Alignment correction can be
achieved by providing field trim at strategic locations such as major horizontal or vertical alignment
changes, connections to existing pipes, specific appurtenance placements, connections to pipes
at structures, and closures. In areas where post-installation access is difficult or undesirable, such
as inside casings, tunnels, or encasements, the joint can be configured for the application of
one full structural fillet weld, one seal weld, and an air test hole. The joint can then be tested to
assure that the structural weld is watertight prior to installation. When required, the joint also can
be configured to function as a temperature control joint. Refer to AMERICANs Field Service guide
for assembly recommendations for a lap weld joint.
Manufacture
A lap weld joint consists of a bell and spigot integrally formed into the parent cylinder, without the
use of separate, welded-on joint rings. The parent cylinder steel is formed beyond its elastic limit
to exacting tolerances to form the bell, and, when necessary, to size the spigot. The tolerances
are small to maintain a tight fit between the outside of the spigot and the inside of the bell to
minimize the weld and eccentricity of the joint. The joint is configured to provide a minimum
engagement equal to the smaller of 1 plus the design joint pull, or 3 times the thickness of the
bell plus the design joint pull. Additional engagement can be accommodated in instances where
the joint will be used as a temperature control joint. The bell and spigot are generally formed
prior to hydrostatic testing. When expansion takes place after the parent cylinder has been
hydrostatically tested, the weld seams in the formed section of a bell or spigot are nondestructively
examined visually (VT) and by the magnetic particle method (MT).
Angular Joint Deflection
A lap weld joint can be disengaged on one side, commonly referred to as deflecting or pulling,
to accommodate small alignment changes and curves required for installation. AMERICAN
recommends a maximum design pull of 1 for all pipe sizes. Where additional deflection is
required, weld bell pipe ends can be miter-cut prior to expansion. Such miter-cut ends are
generally limited to approximately 5. Consult an AMERICAN representative regarding specific
miter-cut bell limitations. The angular deflection for a 1 joint pull and the resulting minimum
radius for a pulled joint curve installation are computed as follows:

Angular Deflection, Q = tan-1(joint pull/pipe O.D.)

Minimum curve radius = [(pipe length)/2]/sin(Q/2)

Based on a 1 pull, the resultant angular deflections and associated minimum curve radii based on
these angular deflections are as shown below.
Lap Weld Joint
Deflection Table
Nominal
Diameter
(in.)

Angular
Deflection
Q
(degree)

Joint
Pull
(in.)

Offset per
50 Length
(in.)

Radius of
Curve*
(ft)

Max. Mitered
Deflection
Angle**
(degree)

Max. Offset
per 50
Length
(in.)

Radius of
Curve*
(ft)

24

2.26

1.00

23.65

1270

5.00

52.23

570

30

1.83

1.00

19.12

1570

5.00

52.23

570

36

1.53

1.00

16.00

1880

5.00

52.23

570

42

1.31

1.00

13.71

2190

5.00

52.23

570

48

1.15

1.00

12.06

2,49

5.00

52.23

570

54

1.03

1.00

10.76

2790

5.00

52.23

570

60

0.93

1.00

9.72

3090

5.00

52.23

570

64

0.87

1.00

9.11

3290

5.00

52.23

570

66

0.84

1.00

8.84

3390

5.00

52.23

570

72

0.77

1.00

8.08

3710

5.00

52.23

570

78

0.72

1.00

7.50

4000

5.00

52.23

570

84

0.66

1.00

6.96

4310

5.00

52.23

570

90

0.62

1.00

6.50

4610

5.00

52.23

570

96

0.58

1.00

6.09

4930

5.00

52.23

570

102

0.55

1.00

5.74

5230

5.00

52.23

570

108

0.52

1.00

5.43

5530

5.00

52.23

570

114

0.49

1.00

5.14

5830

5.00

52.23

570

120

0.47

1.00

4.89

6130

5.00

52.23

570

126

0.45

1.00

4.66

6440

5.00

52.23

570

132

0.43

1.00

4.45

6740

5.00

52.23

570

138

0.41

1.00

4.26

7040

5.00

52.23

570

144

0.39

1.00

4.09

7340

5.00

52.23

570

* Curve radius shown is directly proportional to pipe length. Use of shorter pipe lengths will result in a proportionally smaller radius. For example, if
the radius using 50 long pipes is 1690, then the radius using 25 long pipes will be approximately 845.
** Angle shown is the maximum possible as a combination of miter cut and joint deflection. Mitered lap joints can be furnished at resultant angles
between approximately 0.5 and 5.0 .

Butt Strap (4 - 144)

The butt strap joint is an economical method for connecting two

butting pipe ends at closures, post-installation access points, and
repair areas. The straps are generally furnished in two halves that are

assembled around the butting pipe ends and fillet welded in place.
The strap can be fillet welded inside only, outside only, or both inside

and outside. In instances where butt straps are to be welded both
inside and outside, each half of the strap can be furnished with air test
holes to facilitate pneumatic testing of the finished fillet welds. This is
especially beneficial at closures completed after the installed pipe has

been hydrostatically tested. In addition to the circumferential fillet
welds, this configuration requires two longitudinal complete-joint penetration welds where the two
strap halves meet.
Angular Joint Deflection
Butt strap joints are typically located in areas where the two butting pipes are on the same slope.
Designed deflections in this type joint are rare, but are acceptable, as are installed joint deflections,
as long as gap tolerances between the strap and the pipes are maintained in accordance with the
requirements for bell and spigot lap weld joints as defined in AWWA C200 and AWWA C206.

Butt Joint (4 144)

The welded butt joint can be furnished in any diameter or wall

thickness and is suggested for exposed joints that will be subject to
excessive bending, in-service thermal cycling, or vibration. Most steel
pipe installed using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) methods are
furnished with butt joints.

The joint can be welded from either the inside or outside, or from both

sides. Single welded butt joints can be furnished with or without

backing. Backing assists in placement of a sound root pass.

Backing also aids in aligning pipe ends during assembly and
welding, although it limits joint deflection. Design joint deflections are accomplished by miter
cutting one or both ends of the mating pipes. Miter cutting only one pipe end is acceptable as long
as the assembled joint between the resulting ellipse of the cut end and the mating pipe square
end does not yield an edge offset that violates the guidelines of the governing welding standard,
code, or specification.

Bell and Spigot Rubber Gasket Joints

A bell and spigot rubber gasket joint is an efficient, economical method for joining steel pipe.
The joints remain flexible in service, providing for limited longitudinal and angular movement due
to ground settlement or thermal fluctuations, while remaining watertight. They are generally used
in areas where restraint of longitudinal thrust is not necessary. For areas where restraint of
longitudinal thrust is necessary and welding is neither possible nor desired, the joints can be
restrained by harness lugs and rods, or other suitable methods to develop a longitudinal
resistance force, including AMERICANs restrained rubber gasket joint presented below.
All weld seams present in the faying surfaces of each joint are ground flush with the cylinder
surface to facilitate forming and to effect an acceptable sealing surface for the gasket. The gasket
size and configuration varies based on pipe diameter, wall thickness, and spigot configuration.
Given these variables, as-manufactured pipe dimensions are evaluated for each pipe diameter,
thickness, and spigot configuration combination on each project to properly size the gasket to the
resultant groove dimensions. Requirements for O-ring type gaskets are defined in AWWA
standard C200 for steel pipe.

Rolled Groove O-Ring (24 84)

The rolled groove O-ring gasket joint has decades of proven

performance history with steel water pipes. The rolled groove joint

consists of a bell and spigot that are formed integrally into the

parent pipe cylinder, yielding a joint that is capable of sustaining

pressures equal to that of the parent cylinder pipe. The O-ring

gasket is contained in the formed spigot groove, and upon insertion

of the spigot into the bell, the gasket is compressed between the two

ends to form a watertight seal. Given the form of the ends, a properly

assembled rolled groove joint is self centering. The rolled groove

O-ring joint has a proven history of successful service across a wide
range of pressures. Further, historical testing has shown that the parent cylinder will yield and
fail prior to failure of the joint itself. Refer to AMERICANs Field Service guide for assembly
recommendations for a rolled groove O-ring gasket joint.

Manufacture
A rolled groove joint consists of a bell and spigot integrally formed into the parent cylinder, without
the use of separate, welded-on joint rings. The parent cylinder steel is formed beyond its elastic
limit to exacting tolerances for each end configuration. The tolerances are small to maintain a
tight fit between the outside of the spigot and the inside of the bell, and assure in-service joint
integrity. The bell is shaped by using expansion dies to form the steel cylinder, including an end
flare designed to aid in assembly of the joint. Expansion of the bell configuration offers uniformity
and consistency of joint dimensions over the full range of cylinder thicknesses available for the
rolled groove joint. The spigot is shaped by using rolling dies to form the groove in the steel
cylinder. After the bell and spigot are formed, the parent cylinder is hydrostatically tested.

Size and Pressure Performance Limitations

Because of the formation process of rolled groove spigot ends, the current nominal thickness
limitation of such ends is 3/8. Based on this limitation, the maximum pipe diameter for this type of
joint is generally 84. Further, the material grade for rolled groove spigot ends is limited to steels
with minimum specified yield strengths less than or equal to 46 ksi.
The assembled joint can sustain the same operating and transient pressures as the pipe cylinder.

Angular Joint Deflection

A rolled groove gasket joint can be disengaged on one side, commonly referred to as deflecting
or pulling, to accommodate alignment changes during installation. AMERICAN recommends
design pulls not exceeding 1 for nominal pipe sizes 30 and less, and 3/4 for nominal pipe sizes
greater than 30. Contact an AMERICAN representative regarding pulls exceeding these general
values. The angular deflection for a given joint pull and the resulting minimum radius for a pulled
joint curve installation are computed as follows:

Angular Deflection, Q = tan-1(joint pull/pipe O.D.)

Minimum curve radius = [(pipe length)/2]/sin(Q/2)

Based on the recommended design pulls noted above, the resultant angular deflections, and
associated minimum curve radii for these angular deflections, are as shown below.

O-Ring Joint
Deflection Table
Nominal
Diameter
(in.)

Angular
Deflection
Q (degrees)

Joint
Pull
(in.)

Offset per
50 Length
(in.)

Radius of
Curve*
(ft)

24

2.26

1.00

23.6

1270

30

1.83

1.00

19.1

1570

36

1.15

0.75

12.0

2500

42

0.98

0.75

10.3

2920

48

0.86

0.75

9.0

3320

54

0.77

0.75

8.1

3720

60

0.70

0.75

7.3

4120

64

0.65

0.75

6.8

4390

66

0.63

0.75

6.6

4530

72

0.58

0.75

6.1

4950

78**

0.54

0.75

5.6

5330

84**

0.50

0.75

5.2

5750

* Curve radius shown is directly proportional to pipe length. Use of shorter pipe lengths will result in a proportionally smaller radius. For example, if
the radius using 50 long pipes is 1690, then the radius using 25 long pipes will be approximately 845.
** 78 and 84 o-ring joints have special pressure and service limitations. Contact AMERICAN for specific applications.

Steel Lok-Ring Restrained Joint

AMERICANs restrained rubber gasket joint is a proprietary design that provides for installation of
rubber gasketed restrained joint pipe in areas where welding is undesirable or logistically not
feasible. This design combines the advantages of field proven snap-ring restraint with O-ring seals
that can be seal tested prior to filling the line. The joint consists of a bell integrally formed into the
parent pipe cylinder after the inside bearing ring and outside stiffening ring are attached; and a
spigot consisting of a double gasket spigot ring and bearing ring welded to the parent cylinder of
the mating end. Restraint is accomplished by placing and expanding a locking ring in the assembled
joint between the two bearing rings. The O-ring gaskets are contained in the spigot ring grooves,
and upon insertion of the spigot into the bell the gaskets are compressed between the two ends to
form a watertight seal.

Manufacture
A restrained rubber gasket joint consists of a bell integrally formed into the parent cylinder and a
gasketed spigot ring welded to the parent cylinder. After the restraint and reinforcement rings are
attached, the parent cylinder steel is formed beyond its elastic limit to exacting tolerances for the
bell end configuration. The tolerances are small to maintain a tight fit between the outside of the
spigot and the inside of the bell, and assure in-service joint integrity. The bell is shaped by using
expansion dies to form the steel cylinder. Expansion of the bell configuration offers uniformity and
consistency of joint dimensions over the full range of cylinder thicknesses. The spigot consists of
an extruded gasket retaining ring and restraint ring that are welded to the steel cylinder. After the
bell is formed and the spigot rings are welded on, the parent cylinder is hydrostatically tested.

Size and Pressure Performance Limitations

The restrained rubber gasket joint is available in nominal pipe sizes 36 through 84, in thicknesses
up to 1/2. The rated working pressure for this joint is 250 psi.

Angular Joint Deflection

This joint is flexible and can be extended slightly on one side, commonly referred to as deflecting
or pulling, to accommodate alignment changes during installation. AMERICAN recommends
design angular deflections after snap ring engagement not exceeding the values shown in the
table below. The angular deflection for a given joint pull and the resulting minimum radius for a
pulled joint curve installation are computed as follows:


Angular Deflection, Q = tan-1(joint pull/pipe O.D.)

Minimum curve radius = [(pipe length)/2]/sin(Q/2)

Based on the suggested angular deflections noted below, the resultant minimum curve radii are as
shown below.
Steel Lok-Ring Joint
Deflection Table
Nominal
Diameter
(in.)

Angular
Deflection
Q (degrees)

Joint
Pull
(in.)

Offset per
50 Length
(in.)

Radius of
Curve*
(ft)

36

0.75

0.49

7.9

3820

42

0.50

0.38

5.2

5730

48

0.50

0.43

5.2

5730

54

0.50

0.49

5.2

5730

60

0.50

0.54

5.2

5730

64

0.50

0.57

5.2

5730

66

0.50

0.59

5.2

5730

72

0.38

0.49

3.9

7640

78

0.38

0.52

3.9

7640

84

0.38

0.56

3.9

7640

* Curve radius shown is directly proportional to pipe length. Use of shorter pipe lengths will result in a proportionally smaller radius. For example, if
the radius using 50 long pipes is 1690, then the radius using 25 long pipes will be approximately 845.

Flange Joints (4 144)

A flange is used at a joint that may require future disassembly such as connections to valves and
meters, access port covers, and connections to existing pipe. Flanges are generally shop attached
but can be furnished loose for field attachment when such flexibility is required. Connections are
made using bolts that connect two flanges separated by a gasket. Given this configuration, flanges
afford the designer a convenient location to provide electrical isolation between sections of installed
pipe by virtue of insulating kits. Flanges can be furnished as either of two types, ring or hub, with
ring flanges being the industry standard. Blind flanges are configured without a center hole and are
generally used for covers at access ports, or for closure at the end of a pipeline. Requirements for
flanges, bolts, nuts and gaskets for standard water pipe service are defined in the AWWA standard
for flanges, C207. For conditions outside of the guidelines of AWWA C207, use of alternate
standards may be appropriate, including ASME B16.5 Pipe Flanges and Flanges Fittings, ASME
B16.47 Large Diameter Steel Flanges, or MSS SP-44 Steel Pipeline Flanges. It is important to
note that use of ASME flanges will likely require the use of special, nominal O.D. pipe that does not
maintain the larger inside diameter of typical AWWA steel pipe.

Coupling Joints
Coupling joints provide flexible, removable means of connecting two adjacent pipe ends. Generally
couplings are located at connections between buried piping and piping in structures, and adjacent
to in-line valves and meters. Some coupling types provide resistance to longitudinal thrust forces,
while other types rely on mechanisms external to the coupling when restraint is needed. Similarly,
some couplings are capable of providing electrical isolation between the two mating pipe ends, while
others cannot provide such isolation. Most couplings have a recommended axial gap between the
pipe ends (contact coupling manufacturer for gap requirements). Couplings are available in general
classifications as bolted sleeve-type or split-sleeve.

Bolted Sleeve-Type Coupling (4 144)

Bolted sleeve-type couplings offer no internal resistance to longitudinal thrust forces. Such forces
must be mitigated by other means, or the coupling must be restrained externally via harness bolts
and attached restraint lugs. Whether restrained or unrestrained, these couplings can be configured
to provide electrical isolation between the two adjacent coupled pipe ends. When electrical isolation
is required, the couplings are furnished with one or two rubber boots that are placed on the pipe
end(s) to halt the flow of electrical current between the adjacent pipes. Harnessed couplings
requiring electrical isolation also require washer/sleeve insulation inserts at the connection of the
harness bolts to the restraint lugs. Requirements for bolted sleeve-type couplings are defined in
AWWA C219. Requirements for external harness restraint are defined in Steel Water Pipe: A Guide
for Design and Installation, AWWA M11.

Split-Sleeve Coupling (4 144)

Split-sleeve couplings can be designed to function in a non-restrained manner, or to provide
restraint of longitudinal thrust forces within the confines of the coupling itself. Restraint is achieved
by welding a ring to each mating pipe end at a specified location so that the coupling will
encapsulate and lock against the rings. Given the internal locking configuration of this type of
coupling, electrical isolation is only possible with the non-restrained type of split-sleeve coupling.
For non-restrained split-sleeve couplings, electrical isolation is achieved by use of one or two rubber
boots, similar to that for bolted sleeve-type couplings. Requirements for split-sleeve couplings are
defined in AWWA C227.

Joint Assembly
Detailed assembly recommendations for joints are available in AMERICANs Field Service Guide.

10

A Subsidiary of AMERICAN
P.O. Box 2727
Birmingham, AL 35202-2727
Phone: 1-866-442-ASWP (2797)
Email: aswpcustomerservice@acipco.com

WWW.AMERICAN-USA.COM

Note: The contents of this Field Service Guide are provided for informational purposes and convenience. It remains the responsibility of the installing
contractor to comply with the requirements of the projects plans and specifications, and in the event of a conflict, the terms of the plans and specifications
shall govern and control. However, to the extent any sales representative or other agent or representative of AMERICAN makes any statement that
conflicts with the contents of this Field Service Guide, the contents of the Field Service Guide shall govern and control, and it shall be the responsibility
of the installing contractor to comply with the terms of the Field Service Guide, subject, however, to the preceding sentence.