Aerospace fasteners – bolts, studs, screws, and rivets – are among the most critical components used in aircraft manufacturing. Large aircrafts can use up to 3 million fasteners in their assembly, with structural bolts comprising approximately 25% of the total and rivets the remainder.
These fasteners must withstand the demands of repeated pressure and temperature cycles, variations in dynamic loads, and high vibration levels. The fatigue strength of fasteners in this cyclic loading environment is a critical factor in the design process and in quality control of the manufactured part. While static tensile tests provide a measure of fastener performance under peak load conditions, laboratory testing that simulates actual operational conditions is crucial to obtaining a thorough understanding of the fastener’s performance over its service life.
Magnetic resonance testing machines, also known as high frequency pulsators or Vibrophores, are advanced systems for high cycle fatigue testing. Operating at high test frequencies, Vibrophores can perform a fatigue test in a short period of time, enabling increased specimen throughput – a Vibrophore requires 20% – 40% of the time a servo-hydraulic machine requires to run the same number of cycles.
Zwick Roell Group, a worldwide leader in materials testing, has recently introduced a new generation of Vibrophore systems, available in 50kN to 1,000kN capacities and offering a frequency range of 30Hz – 300Hz. The new Vibrophores utilise an electric drive for controlled static loading, similar to a static materials testing machine, and a magnetic resonance drive for controlled dynamic loading. This design enables both dynamic HCF evaluations and pure static testing.
“Magnetic resonance systems can be installed in most laboratories without infrastructure modifications and consume only 2% of the power of a comparable servo-hydraulic test system. Furthermore, with few parts subject to mechanical wear and tear, Vibrophores are reliable and low maintenance machines.”
Will joined Fastener + Fixing Magazine in 2007 and over the last 15 years has experienced every facet of the fastener sector - interviewing key figures within the industry and visiting leading companies and exhibitions around the globe.
Will manages the content strategy across all platforms and is the guardian for the high editorial standards that the Magazine is renowned.
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