a joint design particularly useful in subsea risers is disclosed . the joint is preferably of a pin and box design where one of the components is held in a stressed condition as the joint is made up and locked together . a portion of the applied stress is then removed , leaving a preload in the assembled joint . a hydraulically operated tool is used to apply the stress while at the same time supporting the riser string . the joint can seal with resilient seals or metal - to - metal contact , or both . the locking device can be of a variety of types including but not limited to breech lock , threads , or lock rings . the pin and box may be made of different materials that have different yield strengths and moduli of elasticity .