Here are some of the general uses and common applications of rubber expansion joints:

Industrial Piping Systems: This is one of the most common applications. They are used to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction, mechanical vibration from pumps and other equipment, and pipe misalignment in systems transporting various fluids, slurries, or gases.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) Systems: Rubber expansion joints are widely used in commercial and industrial buildings, hotels, apartments, and schools to relieve stress in ductwork, absorb vibrations from chillers, compressors, and pumps, and reduce noise transmission.
Power Generation Facilities: Found in coal-burning, hydroelectric, and nuclear power plants, they are used in condenser lines, steam turbine exhaust lines, cooling water lines, and aeration systems to manage thermal expansion, vibration, and noise.
Marine Applications: In the shipping industry, rubber expansion joints are crucial for allowing necessary motion and flexibility in a "working" ship's piping system, eliminating electrolytic action, and insulating against vibration and noise. They are used in fuel, water, and exhaust systems, as well as fire and bilge pumps.
Pollution and Wastewater Treatment Plants: These joints are ideal for sewage treatment plants, water treatment plants, and air scrubber systems due to their resistance to abrasion, corrosion, and their flexibility. They are used in sludge pumps, raw and secondary sewage lines, and centrifugal air blowers.

Chemical and Petrochemical Plants: Rubber expansion joints are employed in these demanding environments to handle corrosive chemicals and provide flexibility against pressure changes, thermal expansion, and vibration in pipelines carrying various reactive liquids or gases.
Oil and Gas Industry: They are essential in pipelines carrying oil, gas, and other fuels, providing flexibility against pressure changes due to expansion and contraction.