ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION The development of metallic element couplings came about through a desire to eliminate the problems associated with lubricated couplings. The basic designs of most metallic element couplings have been around longer than most mechanically flexible or elastomeric couplings. Use of metallic couplings was very limited prior to the 1950s, and they did not become widely used until the late 1960s. These couplings rely on the flexure of metallic materials to accommodate for misalignment and axial movement.
