AGODCO Group

Independently tested and validated primarily at STRESS Engineering in Houston Texas, the Stealth-Lock specimen joints are subjected to simulation and destructive testing compliant to ISO 21329 for mechanical connectors. The Stealth-Lock performance and results are outstanding in some cases, surpassing the values of welding.

ISO 21329 - INSTALLATION, OPERATION; RESTRAINED & UNRESTRAINED, LIMIT LOAD TESTING

The ISO21329 tests include pressure and bending loads and thermal cycling. The difference between the restrained and unrestrained Stealth-Lock tests is the axial force and moment applied during testing. No axial force is applied for the unrestrained tests, and no moment is applied for the restrained tests. During the operational tests, axial and bending loads are cycled between no load and the calculated load equivalent to operation loading and, temperature is cycled between lower and upper test temperatures. A total of 20 cycles is accepted for the normal confidence level, and 100 for the high confidence level. Stealth-Lock was tested and compliant to a high confidence level.

The Stealth-Lock specimens were strain gauged prior to testing to measure membrane (hoop and axial) and bending strains. Axial tension and four-point bending loads were applied to the samples to simulate maximum loads associated with the in-service conditions as predicted by analysis. Internal pressure was applied before and after loading to check for leaks in the connection. No leaks have ever been detected in any of the Stealth-Lock MIF tests.