Browse Topic: Fasteners

Items (5,189)
With the development of controlled nuclear fusion technology, the tokamak device, as the most promising magnetic confinement fusion reactor for advanced engineering applications, requires remote maintenance of its internal components, which has become a key factor affecting both operational efficiency and safety. As a critical component directly exposed to high-temperature plasma, the divertor target plate needs to be periodically replaced and carefully maintained to ensure stable and reliable reactor operation. However, this region is subject to extreme conditions, including high temperature, high vacuum, and intense radiation, making conventional manual maintenance infeasible. This necessitates the development of intelligent and automated teleoperation systems. To address the automated assembly and disassembly requirements of divertor target plates, this study designs an integrated target plate actuator comprising key functional units: a positioning module, a screwing module, a quick-change module, and a passive compliance structure. The actuator achieves rapid and precise alignment with target plate holes, accommodates bolts of different specifications, and exhibits excellent impact resistance. Furthermore, stiffness and mechanical analyses, supported by finite element simulations, verify the actuator’s safety and reliability under high loads and impact forces. To further enhance operational performance, a segmented disassembly and assembly control strategy based on reinforcement learning is proposed, enabling the actuator to adaptively handle torque variations and ensure precise and stable bolt operations. The results demonstrate that the proposed actuator and control strategy significantly improve the accuracy, stability, and efficiency of target plate operations under complex working conditions, providing a reliable solution for automated divertor maintenance in tokamak devices.
Zang, XizheYu, XingzuCao, Zhangbin
This device belongs to the field of aviation materials technology and discloses a high-efficiency drilling equipment for manufacturing aviation materials, which includes a bottom plate. The top of the bottom plate is provided with a clamping structure and a positioning structure. The clamping structure includes a second moving plate, a third sliding groove, a second bi-directional screw, a fourth screw block, a clamping plate, and a rubber block. This device can hold materials through a clamping structure and effectively and quickly locate and drill holes through a positioning structure. By rotating the first threaded rod, it can drive the first screw block to move the U-shaped column. During the movement of the U-shaped column, it will drive the second threaded rod to move together. By rotating the second threaded rod, it will drive the second screw block to adjust the height of the connecting plate for drilling holes. By rotating the third threaded rod, it will drive the first moving plate to move, which will facilitate the multi-directional movement of the drill bit, improve the efficiency of drilling, avoid multiple position changes, and be beneficial for practical applications and operations.
Li, ZuxianLi, Ling
This research overcomes the serious problem of unregulated fastener substitution in aviation manufacturing, which is due to supply chain disruption, design modification, improved production, and permanent installation of substitute fasteners other than temporary installation substitutes. It can introduce potential risks, including the differences between designed and as-built configurations, and problems with the structural strength of parts. Analysis of a 20XX aircraft model that has been documented with 9 types of fasteners reveals that shortages of 4CE5 and 1CD6 remain constant manufacturing nonconformities and a major element causing long term quality erosion. We have developed an early warning system centered on data with the introduction of the Tolerable Substitution Ratio (TSR) and the non-substitution ratio (NSR). Empirical results show that after implementation, the substituted materials can save as much as 25%, which is approximately $534,000 on domestic sourcing costs and permanently revised drawing costs. We should consider both users’ specifications and the production facility’s actual capabilities when designing the degree of substitution tolerances; substitution deviating from the original specification would not be tolerated. For an extended cycle longer than one year, phase adaptive tolerance adjustments are critical for achieving the acceptable quality limit (AQL). Real-time alignment of the key trigger point in the process stream with supply chain analytics takes away the historical trade-off between operational efficiency and the quality of the final deliverable. The result of this process is that there were more than 1,600 fewer ad-hoc deployments but higher levels of system stability, even as the processes had become more unstable. The payoff in terms of verified protocols for mitigating risk was much greater.
Feng, Yu
To obtain additional space for industrial sorting and assembly line labeling operations, this study conducts an analysis of the four-bar mechanism. Based on this analysis and combination, the redundant parallel mechanism is introduced. That is, on the basis of the traditional parallel mechanism with central rotation, the objective of expanding the working space is achieved. The degree of freedom of the screw theory and the disparities between the working space of this mechanism and that of the traditional mechanism are analyzed. Finally, through application analysis, it is demonstrated that the working space of this mechanism is variable and that the mechanism can adapt to diverse workplaces.
Li, WenqianZhang, Xiaojie
Ball screws, as classic high-precision transmission structures, are widely used in various linear motion mechanisms. To meet the needs of space applications, it is necessary to address issues such as microgravity and long lifespan to enhance the in-orbit lifespan and reliability of ball screws. Traditional oil or grease lubrication methods are often unsuitable for space environments due to microgravity and vacuum evaporation problems. This paper conducts relevant research on lubrication design, friction pair design, and friction and wear verification to solve the lubrication and lifespan issues of long-lifespan ball screws for space applications.
Xie, WenZhao, JianGong, KangHu, XiaonanGuo, MengleiJiao, Hanyu
Internal recirculating ball screws are widely used as linear motion components in automotive active safety systems, owing to their simple structure and compact size. The recirculation (or deflection) channel is a key feature that distinguishes this type from other ball screw designs. The objective of this article is to investigate this key feature that has been rarely addressed in existing research on internal ball screw. The conventional design method for the recirculation channel involves sweeping the cross-section along the center curve. The center curve is typically defined by various classical equations. These equations are applied in different application scenarios. In automotive braking systems, high loads and strict size constraints place critical demands on both the recirculation channel and its center curve. As a representative best-practice example, the machined channel in the screw is typically employed in this application. This article compares several classical center curve equations and proposes a new general approach based on a family of transition curves. The mechanical analysis identifies the inherent structural characteristics of recirculation channel and develops corresponding design guideline. Furthermore, parameter optimization is performed using MSC ADAMS Multibody Dynamics (MBD) software.
Xia, XinanXia, YanzheZhao, Tina
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
SCOPE IS UNAVAILABLE.
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
SCOPE IS UNAVAILABLE
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
SCOPE IS UNAVAILABLE.
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
SCOPE IS UNAVAILABLE.
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
Aircraft lighting systems play a vital role in ensuring operational safety, visibility, and regulatory compliance. Exterior lighting systems are essential for aircraft identification, navigation, collision avoidance, and ground operations under varying environmental conditions. These systems typically include navigation lights, anti-collision lights, landing and taxi lights. An aircraft lighting system comprises light sources, optical elements, electronic control units, power interfaces, wiring harnesses, and mechanical mounting structures. Among these components, optics are critical as they control light distribution, intensity, color accuracy, and efficiency while withstanding harsh aerospace environments such as vibration, thermal cycling, and aerodynamic loads. Aircraft exterior lights are subjected to severe thermo-mechanical stresses due to aerodynamic loading, vibration, and thermal cycling. The use of high-performance optical polymers such as Cyclo Olefin Polymers (COP) provides excellent light transmission and stability; however, their relatively lower mechanical toughness makes them susceptible to stress-induced cracking during assembly. In the baseline configuration, the Circuit Board Assembly (CBA) was fastened directly onto the optic using self-tapping screws. During assembly, frequent crack initiation was observed in the optic around the fastener locations, leading to concerns regarding reliability and maintainability. To address this issue, a redesigned mounting approach was developed that eliminated direct fastener penetration into the optic. Instead, the CBA is retained using a precision clamping mechanism, thereby distributing assembly loads uniformly and avoiding localized stress concentrations. COP material was retained due to its superior optical characteristics and compliance with photometric requirements for aircraft lighting applications. The redesigned optic-CBA interface was validated through Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT), incorporating combined vibration, temperature, and thermal shock profiles. Test results confirmed that the new clamping design prevented crack formation, improved mechanical robustness, and ensured long-term optical performance. This paper presents the problem definition, root cause analysis of fastener-induced cracking, the design rationale for adopting a clamp-based mechanism, and detailed HALT validation results. The study highlights the importance of integrating material properties, fastening strategies, and environmental testing in the design of aerospace lighting systems. The proposed design methodology provides a pathway to enhance reliability and lifecycle performance of critical optical components in aircraft applications.
Vialta, FredericoS, NikhilKatageri, PraveenSP, PradeepSingh, Abhimanyu Kumar
Predicting the fatigue life of threaded bolts is crucial in aerospace and mechanical assemblies where cyclic loading can cause early joint failure. Existing studies, like [1], have created S-N curves for high-strength bolts under different pretension and temperature conditions through experimentation. However, there are few numerical methods that can replicate these results, especially for bolts without pretension. This study develops and validates a finite element analysis (FEA) methodology to predict the fatigue performance of pretensioned threaded bolts under axial loading, using the experimentally derived Series-2 S-N data for M20 high-strength bolts with pretension. The approach employs a detailed 3D solid model with explicit thread geometry and a two-step transient structural analysis. This first simulates the bolt tightening process to establish a realistic preload, followed by the application of a service tensile load. Local stress distributions are analyzed to extract peak stress amplitudes, which are then used with the Basquin relation and the ASME Elliptic failure criterion to estimate fatigue life. The FEA-predicted results are compared against the published experimental dataset. Preliminary results show that the proposed FEA method aligns with the observed fatigue lives within the experimental variability, confirming its effectiveness for directly assessing the fatigue of threaded bolts with pretension. This method provides a practical, experimentally based simulation framework for aerospace bolt design, enabling engineers to incorporate validated fatigue predictions into digital engineering processes for ensuring structural integrity.
K R, LesanthS, Suhail AhmedC, ArunvetrivelP, KrishnakumarP S, PremkumarVasantharaj, C
Polymeric optical materials such as Cyclo Olefin Polymer (COP) are adopted in aerospace lighting systems due to their excellent optical clarity, dimensional stability, moldability and weight saving advantages over glass. However, their relatively low toughness and the presence of residual molding stress make them prone to crack initiation during mechanical fastening. During its installation, crack formation was consistently observed around self-tapping screw interfaces, raising concerns over reliability, maintainability, and compliance with durability requirements. A structured Design of Experiments (DOE) was performed to identify root causes and evaluate potential mitigation methods. The investigation revealed that residual stresses in the COP material, combined with localized stress concentrations during screw tightening, were the primary drivers of crack initiation. Two complementary process improvements were identified and validated as part of mitigation plan: (i) annealing of the optics prior to assembly to relieve internal stress, and (ii) using step-torquing method to fasten the screws, to gradually distribute applied loads and reduce localized stress peaks. Post-assembly observation over three days confirmed a significant reduction in crack initiation. The combined annealing and step-torquing approach demonstrated a substantial reduction in crack generation probability, providing a practical and repeatable process for enhancing the robustness of polymeric optic assemblies. This work contributes a generalizable methodology for mitigating assembly-induced failures in advanced polymer materials and supports broader adoption of lightweight, high-performance optics in aerospace applications.
S, NikhilSingh, Abhimanyu KumarKatageri, PraveenSP, PradeepChandra, Praveen
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
E-25 General Standards for Aerospace and Propulsion Systems
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