Radially flexible flange joint for exhaust manifold

A radially flexible connection joint for a gas turbine engine, the gas turbine engine defining a rotation axis, said connection joint comprising:

• an exhaust cylinder comprising a cylindrical flange that extends radially outwardly from the rotation axis, the cylindrical flange defining a downstream axial face;
• an exhaust manifold downstream from the exhaust cylinder, the exhaust manifold comprising an upstream edge, wherein the exhaust cylinder and the exhaust manifold are substantially coaxial with the rotation axis;
• and
• an exhaust manifold flange operatively coupling the exhaust cylinder to the exhaust manifold, the exhaust manifold flange comprising a bellows portion extending radially between the cylindrical flange of the exhaust cylinder and the upstream edge of the exhaust manifold, whereby relative radial movement of the exhaust cylinder and the exhaust manifold is permitted, said exhaust manifold flange further comprising an annular mounting structure coupled to the bellows portion, said mounting structure comprising a radial portion that defines the upstream axial face, and an axial portion extending a predetermined axial distance from the radial portion, and said axial portion being formed with a taper angle between a radially outer face and a radially inner face of the axial portion in a downstream direction away from radial portion and configured to reduce fatigue failure of the exhaust manifold flange.