Stress Testing and Analysis of Self-adjusting Bolt in Converter

• Main Authors: Shan Pang, Yuanyuan Lai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IFSA Publishing, S.L. 2013-07-01
• Series: Sensors & Transducers
• Subjects: Converter; Self-adjusting Bolt; Stress Testing; Stress Analysis.
• Online Access: http://www.sensorsportal.com/HTML/DIGEST/july_2013/Special%20Issue/P_SI_393.pdf

Oxygen top-blow converter is the main equipment in steelmaking. Because the support system of converter bears total weight of the converter and its accessories, and meanwhile transfers tilting torque from tilting mechanism to converter, it is the most important part of converter machinery. The joint equipment which links the converter with the support ring is the key part in the support system, and its work reliability decides the security and economy of steel production. The joint equipment of self-adjust bolt has the advantages of heavy-load bear capacity and simple structure, so it's the most important part of converter machinery. From the field testing, a large shock takes when the converter starting or breaking. Once the converter is broken at 63°, the self-adjusting bolts are under a large load and dynamic impact. So it will cause great instantaneous stress and a serious shortage of stress intensity reserves, the crack sources easily come up in the region of stress concentration and dangerous section. Analysis of steel-making process on all typical operating conditions, such as temperature detecting, sampling and slag tapping, the stress at 75° is close to the theoretical maximum stress caused at 63°, so the converter angle should be strictly controlled to avoid converter's braking at 63° and limit the residence time. At the same time the auxiliary converter connection (such as clamping, etc.) should be strengthened to ensure the safety factor. Finally some optimization measures should be made to increase the reserve strength and fully meet the production requirements.