Fastener Crosstalk is the phenomenon where as fasteners are tensioned, they affect the load on other fasteners around them, essentially speaking to each other.
We have been wanting to make a video that can show this intriguing display for a very long time. Because the Maxbolt™ can measure continuous tension in the fastener, there is simply nothing that can show crosstalk in fasteners better.
In making this video, an actual installation was done on an ASME class 300 flange unit. All measurements were recorded precisely during tightening with 3/4″ Maxbolt fasteners and a spiral wound gasket installed. The full procedure was: (1-5-3-7), (2-6-4-8) PCC- Legacy Modified.
First Pass: Fasteners were torqued to 55 ft lbs, which targeted 22% on the Maxbolt (40% of target torque STAR)
Second Pass: Fasteners were torqued to 138 ft lbs, which targeted 50% on the Maxbolt (100% of target torque STAR)
Third and Final Pass: Fasteners were torqued to 138 ft lbs, which targeted 50% on the Maxbolt (100% of target torque CW)
Calculated with K= 0.17, 100% on MB = 26,700 Lbf
During the first pass, there was a considerable amount of crosstalk in the bolts. A the very beginning all fasteners started hand tightened, but we found many were much more loose than this as we tried to torque them. During the second and final pass though, we really see the bolts crosstalking to each other and it reflected in their tension in the video. This video animation of an actual installation illustrates that controlling a joint with torque results in uneven tensioning of the fastener because of fastener crosstalk. With Maxbolts, designed preloads can be monitored continuously and show +/- 5% of targeted load to ASTM F2482 standards.
We hope you enjoy this video as much as we enjoyed making it. Please share and stay tuned for more animations like these to see more of the Fastener Revolution.
