Heat Treatment of Metals ›› 2025, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (2): 312-315.DOI: 10.13251/j.issn.0254-6051.2025.02.050

• FAILURE ANALYSIS • Previous Articles    

Fracture cause analysis of one tower bolt

Zhang Demei1, Liang Xiaodong2, Zhang Yan2   

  1. 1. Chongqing Institute of Optics and Mechanics Co., Ltd., Chongqing 401122, China;
    2. Chongqing Chongke Physical and Chemical Test & Metrology Center Co., Ltd., Chongqing 400020, China
  • Received:2024-08-13 Revised:2024-12-29 Published:2025-04-10

Abstract: One tower bolt used in one wind-power station was fractured. The fracture cause of the failed bolt was analyzed by means of metallographic examination, SEM-EDS analysis, chemical composition testing and mechanical property testing. The results show that chemical composition and mechanical properties all meet the requirements of national standard. There is no abnormality for the microstructure. But the R value at the connection between the head of the fractured bolt and the screw is too small. The depth of Zn-Ni plating near the crack source is deeper than other edges, which indicates that during quenching and tempering treatment, cracks are generated at the intersection of the bolt head and the screw under the action of quenching stress. When in use, under the action of force, cracks continue to propagate, ultimately leading to fatigue fracture.

Key words: tower bolt, fracture analysis, quenching crack

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