In the present study, the influence of hydrogen on the fatigue behavior of the high strength martensitic stainless steel X3CrNiMo13-4 and the metastable austenitic stainless steels X2Crni19-11 with various nickel contents was examined in the low and high cycle fatigue regime. The focus of the investigations were the changes in the mechanisms of short crack propagation. Experiments in laboratory air with uncharged and precharged specimen and uncharged specimen in pressurized hydrogen were carried out. The aim of the ongoing investigation was to determine and quantitatively describe the predominant processes of hydrogen embrittlement and their influence on the short fatigue crack morphology and crack growth rate. In addition, simulations were carried out on the short fatigue crack growth, in order to develop a detailed insight into the hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms relevant for cyclic loading conditions. It was found that a lower nickel content and a higher martensite content of the samples led to a higher susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement. In addition, crack propagation and crack path could be simulated well with the simulation model.

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Die Betriebsbeanspruchung von Schrauben in Ringflanschverbindungen zur Verbindung von Tragstruktursektionen von Windenergieanlagen wird maßgeblich durch die vorhandene Pressung in der Flanschkontaktfuge beeinflusst, welche durch die eingebrachte Schraubenvorspannkraft erzielt wird. Unter den vorliegenden Belastungen im laufenden Betrieb der Anlage besteht die Möglichkeit, dass durch Plastifizierung im Flansch oder in der Schraube Vorspannkraft verloren geht. In diesem Beitrag wird anhand eines praxisnahen Beispiels gezeigt, ob und – wenn ja – in welcher Größenordnung Vorspannkraftverluste zu erwarten sind und durch welche Einflussfaktoren diese maßgeblich bestimmt werden. Hierzu werden verschiedene Last‐ und Vorspannkraftniveaus sowie unterschiedliche Imperfektionen in Form von Parallelklaffungen untersucht. Auf Basis der durchgeführten numerischen Untersuchungen kann festgehalten werden, dass Vorspannkraftverluste nur in geringer Höhe auftreten und eine hohe Vorspannkraft sich stets positiv auswirkt, auch wenn sich dadurch erste Plastifizierungseffekte schon auf einem niedrigeren Lastniveau einstellen.

Stahlrohrtürme von Windenergieanlagen sind schwingungsanfällige Tragstrukturen, welche infolge des Anlagenbetriebs wechselnden Beanspruchungen ausgesetzt sind. Dem Ermüdungsfestigkeitsnachweis für den Turm kommt daher eine große Bedeutung zu. Ein neuralgischer Punkt innerhalb der Turmstruktur sind in der Regel die Ringflanschverbindungen, welche die einzelnen Turmsektionen mittels vorgespannter Schrauben miteinander verbinden. In Bezug auf die Ermüdungsfestigkeit dieser Verbindung ist die Sicherstellung einer ausreichend hohen Schraubenvorspannung dabei entscheidend. Für eine realitätsnahe Vorhersage der verbleibenden Vorspannkraft in einer Flanschverbindung nach einer Überbeanspruchung ist eine präzise Erfassung des plastischen Verformungsverhaltens der Schraube‐Mutter‐Verbindung wichtig. In dem vorliegenden Beitrag wird ein numerischer Ansatz zur Vorhersage des Vorspannkraftverlusts von zentrisch und exzentrisch vorgespannten Schraubenverbindungen infolge von hohen Einzellasten vorgestellt, welcher durch Versuche verifiziert wird.

Many mechanical joints in steel structures use conventional bolts. Nevertheless, this proven joining technology has some significant disadvantages. These basically include the high levels of scatter during application of the assembly preload using the torque‐controlled tightening process, the risk of loosening during cyclic loads due to transverse displacement of the components and the low fatigue resistance under axial loading. Lockbolt technology was invented as long ago as the 1930s and mainly used for the aviation and space industry because of its evident advantages. This joining technology has been constantly further developed in response to the most diverse demands from sectors such as aviation, commercial vehicles, rail vehicles, agricultural machinery, defence technology and steel structures. The application of lockbolt technology, which is primarily used in mechanical engineering, was in most cases based on individual studies, since no consistent rules and guidelines were available for the design and execution of lockbolt connections in steel structures. Within the scope of several public research projects funded by the AiF (German Federation of Industrial Research Associations) and conducted by the iGF (Industrial Collective Research) organization as well as through approval investigations, the Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering (IGP) has successively developed the necessary design rules according to the EN 1993 standard (Eurocode 3) for use in structural connections. These design rules will be presented within the context of this article in order to make the benefits of this joining technology available to other users. In addition, insights into the use of technical approvals will be presented together with some current applications.

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No abstract

Many mechanical joints in steel structures use conventional bolts. Nevertheless, this proven jointing technology has some significant disadvantages. These basically include the high levels of scatter during application of the assembly preload using the torque-controlled tightening process, the risk of loosening during cyclic loads due to transverse displacement of the components and the low fatigue resistance under axial loading. Lockbolt technology was invented as long ago as the 1930s and mainly used for the aviation and space industry because of its evident advantages. This jointing technology has been constantly further developed in response to the most diverse demands from sectors such as aviation, commercial vehicles, rail vehicles, agricultural machinery, defence technology and steel structures. The application of lockbolt technology, which is primarily used in mechanical engineering, was in most cases based on individual studies, since no consistent rules and guidelines were available for the design and execution of lockbolt connections in steel structures. Within the scope of several public research projects funded by the AiF (German Federation of Industrial Research Associations) and conducted by the iGF (Industrial Collective Research) organization as well as through approval investigations, the Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering (IGP) has successively developed the necessary design rules according to the EN 1993 standard (Eurocode 3) for use in structural connections. This paper presents connections with lockbolts in steel structures. Following an introduction to lockbolt technology and the assembly preload of lockbolts, the securing effect and corrosion protection of lockbolts are presented.