Mechanical joining of PVC tubes by their ends

This paper extends recent developments in the mechanical joining of metallic tubes by their ends at room temperature to polymer tubes. The presentation describes the experimental and finite element research work with commercial PVC tubes that was performed to characterize the deformation mechanics of the process and to identify the workability limits as a function of the major operating parameters. Experiments with water tightness destructive tests demonstrate the capability of the mechanical joining process to produce tight, structurally sound joints that are able of withstanding internal pressures above the maximum operating pressure of the individual PVC tubes, while eliminating extra components and facilitating the ease of installation.