31.10.2014
The new updated version of the fundamental German bolting guideline VDI 2230, part 2 was highly anticipated by the audience of the 2nd Bolt Connection Conference in Meschede, Germany. This topic and more lectures about the calculation, control and design of bolted joints found a very positive response by nearly 80 participants from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark.
Meschede | Germany.
The focus of the 2nd Bolt Connection Conference 2014 was to explore the latest insights of technical innovation in optimizing the design of bolted joints larger than M20 (3/4''). The topics of the well-known speakers from all over Germany covered the whole spectrum of the "process chain bolt connection":
Nearly 80 participating engineers and technicians in the audience followed one lecture with very special interest: Prof. Dr. Willfried Lori's "The updated guideline VDI 2230, part 2". No wonder: This guideline VDI 2230 contains fundamental calculations, methods and rules for the technical design of bolted joints.
The VDI is the German Association of Engineers (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure) and well-recognized for their work in standardization.
Being the chairman of the VDI 2230 Prof. Dr. Lori gave both competent and first-hand information, as the print-version of the VDI 2230 will be released not until December 2014.
Hydraulic, friction- and torsion-free tensioning: Our video explains the method in 48 seconds.
During his presentation Prof. Dr. Willfried Lori summarized: "Fundamental calculations were improved and extended comprehensively. The calculations are more clear and they are closer to every-day practice".
Follwing the report of the VDI 2230 ITH president Frank Hohmann looked ahead at possible future developments of the guideline, speaking about "Relative elastic resiliences of the bolted joint".
"The results of our experimental study show, that in some cases the theoretical calculations of the VDI 2230 referring to resiliences appear to have a deviance which is too high", Frank Hohman explained and suggested: "It should be considered to add a corrective factor for the formular".
Being well known and recognized for this sceptical mind Prof. Dr. Willfried Lori could agree only partly. Both speakers discussed further options and did not forget to include the audience into their share of thoughts, which was appriciated by the participants. However in the end both speakers agreed on further research work on this topic and considered further cooperation.
The results of the survey among the participants showed the speech of Dipl.-Ing. Ulrich Uphues "Maintenance Free Bolting Solutions" was well received. Uphues presented the results of a 18-month long-term study of 2.5 MW wind turbine tower bolts and did not forget to implement practical recommendations how to design bolted joints.
The long-term study was based on valid results from the use of the ultra-sonic bolt measurement system (USB-System). Concluding all facts Uphus showed that all measured preloads were above the required minimum target preloads by using IHF Fasteners together with ITH Bolt Tensioning Cylinders.
That precision is the reason why maintenance intervals on these bolt connections can be called "Maintenance free". Reduced maintenance intervals lead to significant cost reductions - especially on offshore applications.
"One of our ideas to organize the Bolt Connection Conference was that we wanted all participants to find the time to share their minds and thoughts on bolting technology", explained Jörg Hohmann who leads the company ITH together with his brother Frank Hohmann. "This is usually very productive for all participants. From direct conversations and the survey we know that this is well received. The exchange makes you think beyond".
"Furthermore not many institutions worldwide deal with research on bolt connections bigger than M16. But that is just what we focus on: finding solutions to improve these bolt connections. Fortunately we have had some important research projects over the last years", Jörg Hohmann added. "We wanted to share this information to offer our participants advanced technical knowledge".
"The results of our survey among the participants were very positive", Frank Hohmann said after the conference. "I would like to thank everybody involved. These results will set the standards for the next Bolt Connection Conference".
Also the practical part "hands on tools" the day before the conference was well visited. Nearly 90 % of all participants took their time to gain an insight on the latest bolting tools and solutions.
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As the conference language was German ITH offers to give you a technical presentation at your site in other languages.
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