Experimental study on the mechanical properties of stainless steel high strength short tail swage-locking pins

Abstract

As a type of fastener, swage-locking pins have demonstrated remarkable performance and widespread utilisation across aviation, aerospace, and railway industries. As the variety of swage-locking pin products continues to expand, the production of larger-sized pins with different materials has become feasible. Consequently, these pins can be effectively employed in stainless steel structures in civil engineering construction as an alternative to high-strength bolts, effectively mitigating the challenges associated with stainless steel high-strength bolts. In this study, stainless steel short tail swage-locking pins were fabricated and tested to assess their applicability in stainless steel structures as a viable substitute for M20 high-strength bolts. Specifically, the mechanical properties of the raw material of the stainless steel swage-locking pins were tested. The preload level of the swage-locking pins was measured, and negligible relaxation in preload over time was observed. The average preload value achieved met the requirements for M20 high-strength bolts. The bearing capacity of the swage-locking pins under tension and shear was measured, and a bearing capacity design equation was proposed. Furthermore, a principle for the pin group installation sequence was proposed and the relaxation of the preload under this principle was measured. In conclusion, this study offers valuable insights and references for the seamless integration of stainless steel high-strength short tail swage-locking pins within stainless steel structures.