Engineering Technical Publications, Case Studies, and Articles

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4/23/2025

Article

Testing and Validation Phases: Ensuring Product Reliability Pre-Launch

Every successful new product development journey relies on thorough testing and validation phases. Beyond just checking boxes, rigorous evaluation can uncover potential issues, confirm performance standards, and protect your
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1/23/2024

Article

Guidance for Solar PV Structures Will Reduce Risk for Insurers

Insurers are critical stakeholders in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. They have a compelling interest in robust and reliable solar PV systems with known risks, especially for utility-scale solar PV facilities that provide power to the grid. Unfortunately, some risks related to solar PV structures are not widely recognized or understood. The solar PV industry…
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5/4/2023

Article

Solar Builder – Problematic Fastener Selection

Mature industries are characterized by well-developed engineering practices, standards, quality management processes and highly reliable systems. The solar PV industry has generally not achieved this level of maturity in
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3/10/2023

Article

Controlling Loading Dynamics in Chassis Bolted Connections Through Friction Increase

Abstract With the trend toward electrification, vehicle chassis designs are evolving. The number of vehicle variants (ICE, hybrid, BEV) for a like model are increasing and, in the case
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9/7/2021

Article

Three Ways Increasing the L/D Ratio Improves Reliability of Dynamically Loaded Bolt Joints

During design reviews, experienced engineers may point out that a larger ratio of clamped length to bolt diameter (L/D) improves the reliability of dynamically loaded bolted joints, but they
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1/25/2021

Article

Simple Test Technique to Determine Type of Fastener Loosening

Bolted joints are extremely reliable through the life of the product, as long as the bolt remains tight. Unfortunately, bolts often loosen when placed in service, and they can
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4/10/2020

Case Study

A Tale of Two Solar Racking System Fasteners: Threaded vs. Lockbolt

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The important role of fasteners in ensuring safe and reliable solar racking and tracking structures is critical but often underappreciated. There are significant differences in strength and
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11/11/2019

Article

The Use of Two Nuts to Prevent Self-Loosening Intro

The use of two nuts is effective to prevent the self-loosening of a nut, if done correctly. The proper assembly technique requires a thin nut to be assembled nearest
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6/12/2019

Article

What Should Be Tightened—the Nut or the Bolt Head?

The question is often asked as to whether the nut or the bolt head should be tightened. Although at first blush a seemingly unimportant distinction, the choice you make
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4/15/2019

Article

Self-Loosening of Threaded Fasteners

Non-rotational loosening is often caused by the embedding of the surfaces in the joint. In contrast, rotational loosening is primarily caused by a transverse slip in the joint. Both
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2/1/2019

Case Study

Failure of an M24 Engine Mounting Bolt

Proper tightening of an M24 mounting bolt is crucial to prevent loosening and joint movement, eventually leading to fatigue failure. In this article, Dr. Bill Eccles illustrates the solution
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9/25/2018

Article

Preload Relaxation in Aluminum PV Racking System Fasteners

Threaded fasteners are a critical component within the PV (Photovoltaic) Racking System, but people often overlook them because they’re small and relatively inexpensive. Don’t make that same mistake. Threaded
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Case Studies and Articles

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