Bolted connections play an overriding role in ensuring functionality and are often subject to great stresses. Up to now, visual inspections or the regular replacement of components have been the order of the day. This makes it all the more necessary to consider optimal monitoring as early as the planning phase so that the inspection effort and scope can be minimized. Such concepts are particularly in demand for monitoring fastening systems on railroads, pipelines, aircraft or in the wind power industry.
At the 18th Wind Fair Symposium in Hamburg, visitors will be able to find out about the latest developments in wind energy, technical innovations, economic aspects and the market development of on- and offshore wind energy. In his bolt sensor lecture on October 5, 2021, Arndt Steinke will provide information on “Innovative preload force sensor technology for screw connections”; the co-speaker will be Steffen Niggemann of Weidmüller GmbH & Co. KG.
The CiS Research Institute has MEMS technology platforms that can be used to determine preload force and operating force as well as their change over time. Miniaturized silicon strain gauges are arranged as Wheatstone’s measuring bridge via a mounting carrier and mounted on a bolt head. Optimal packaging guarantees hermetically sealed encapsulation and universal interfaces that the measurement signal processing and output can be integrated into the user’s measurement system.
