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A neural network clamping force model for bolt tightening of wind turbine hubs

Secco, EL; Nagar, A; Deters, C; Wurdemann, H; Lam, HK; Althoefer, K; (2015) A neural network clamping force model for bolt tightening of wind turbine hubs. In: Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE International Conference on Computer and Information Technology; Ubiquitous Computing and Communications; Dependable, Autonomic and Secure Computing; Pervasive Intelligence and Computing (CIT/IUCC/DASC/PICOM). (pp. pp. 288-296). IEEE: Liverpool, UK. Green open access

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Abstract

Industrial manufacturing of large-scale wind turbines requires the accurate tightening of multiple bolts and nuts, which connect the ball bearings - supporting wind turbine blades - with the hub, a huge mechanical component supporting blades pitch motion. An accurate tightening of bolts and nuts requires uniformly distributed clamping forces along flanges and surfaces of contact between hub and bearings. Due to the role of friction forces and the dynamics of the phenomenon, this process is nonlinear and currently performed manually; it is also time consuming, requiring high-cost equipment and expert operators. This paper proposes a set of neural networks, which infer the clamping force achievable with a tightening tool while fastening M24 nuts on bolts. The tool embeds a torque sensor and shaft encoder, therefore two types of inputs of the neural networks are considered in order to fit the clamping force output: the time signals of (a) the applied torque of the tool and (b) the combination of the torque and of the angular speed of the tool. According to results, neural networks properly model the clamping force, both during the training stage and when exposed to unseen testing data. This approach could be generalized to other industrial processes and specifically to those requiring repetitive tightening tasks and involving highly nonlinear aspects, such as friction forces.

Type: Proceedings paper
Title: A neural network clamping force model for bolt tightening of wind turbine hubs
Event: 2015 IEEE International Conference on Computer and Information Technology; Ubiquitous Computing and Communications; Dependable, Autonomic and Secure Computing; Pervasive Intelligence and Computing (CIT/IUCC/DASC/PICOM)
ISBN-13: 9781509001545
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1109/CIT/IUCC/DASC/PICOM.2015.42
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/CIT/IUCC/DASC/PICOM.2015...
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2015 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.
Keywords: neural network, self-adaptive manufacturing, bolt tightening, wind turbine
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Mechanical Engineering
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1478356
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