Characterization

Poster

Brittle fracture of high strength bolts of large diameter at low temperatures

Christoph Lorenz, Institute for Metal and Lightweight Structures, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
Natalie Stranghöner, Institute for Metal and Lightweight Structures, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
Sandro Citarelli, Institute for Steel Structures, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Markus Feldmann, Institute for Steel Structures, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Benedikt Döbereiner, Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Sebastian Münstermann, Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Wolfgang Bleck, Institute of Ferrous Metallurgy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

High-strength structural bolting assemblies of the system HV with large diameters up to M72 are increasingly used in highly loaded steel structures. In addition to static and fatigue loads, the connections are exposed to low temperatures.

It is known that the risk of brittle fracture at low temperature applications increases with increasing thickness of the steel material. In principle, this relation also applies to increasing bolt diameters. In the frame of the research project “Brittle Fracture of high strength bolts of large diameter at low temperatures”, a brittle fracture concept will be developed to assess the tendency to brittle fracture of high-strength bolted connections of large diameters up to M72, class 10.9 at low temperatures. Within this research project, systematic studies on the low-temperature behaviour of high-strength bolted connections of large diameters will be performed in accordance to EN 14399-4 and DASt-Richtlinie 021 considering static and fatigue loading on theoretical and experimental basis. The results serve as the basis for the new fracture mechanics and mechanical damage based brittle fracture concept.

The research project is carried out by a cooperation of the Institute for Metal and Lightweight Structures, University of Duisburg-Essen, with the Institute for Steel Structures and the Department of Ferrous Metallurgy, both RWTH Aachen. The project is coordinated by the Institute for Metal and Lightweight Structures of the University of Duisburg-Essen. The poster will give an overview of the research project as well as first results of the experimental and numerical investigations.

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