Question Details
I'm specifically referring to exhaust pipes on my motorcycle. A relatively scientific or metallurgical explanation is okay, just not technical, please.
Is something happening on a molecular level to cause this?
Answer
When metal gets hot, it expands. Therefore when it cools it has to go back to its orignal length. In the case of water pipes, if this expansion is not compensated for by adding coils or a flexible hose, then this contraction by cooling can cause the pipes to vibrate, making noise and possibly causing them to break by metal fatigue. Usually that is in the older installed pluming. Modern plumbers should know better!!!!
Answer
In complex assemblies that get hot, such as your bike, there are often different matals used. The block is cast metal and the pipe may be stainless. Each material has a different coeficient of expansion. In other words, some materials expand more when heated than others. Likewise as they cool, things don't shrink up the same either. The sounds heard are the surfaces sliding against each other in sudden, ever small amounts as they cool to the ambient temp. Tink.... Tink. Even similar materials will cool at differing rates due to their surroundings or density.
First answer by anonymous. Last edit by Ron. Question popularity: 188 [recommend question]
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