Direct bolting of railway aluminium vehicle components with flow drill screwing

Abstract

The aim of the research study is to investigate the increase of the load-bearing capacity by utilising a shear-/bearing loaded joint for both, the static and the fatigue strength verification of flow drill screwed aluminium components. The focus is set on load-bearing capacity investigations for bolted joints in aluminium profiles with sheet thicknesses from 3 mm to 7 mm, as they are commonly used in extruded aluminium profiles for supporting structures in rail vehicles. A decisive obstacle for the utilisation of the economic potential of directly bolted connections is the lack of design rules and load capacity verifications. As research objectives, the existing deficit of an analytically unified design and the lacking determination of the load-bearing capacity of directly bolted aluminium components must be eliminated. Considering the process chains of railway vehicle manufacturing, this is an economical advantage for the many supplier companies in the business.