Light Weight Large Diameter Bolts for Safer Wind Turbine Maintenance

TISICS limited develops and manufactures silicon carbide fibre reinforced titanium composites (TMC). TMC increases the strength and stiffness of titanium to match high strength steel, whilst retaining titanium's low density and corrosion resistance. TISICS' project will assess whether weight savings and corrosion benefits can be exploited for offshore wind turbine fasteners, where very large bolts (M30 to M60) are used. Reducing weight will help installation where mechanical handling is not easily achieved. The corrosion resistance will help reduce operating costs, which is key to economic offshore power generation. The final benefit of this approach is to develop a solution where the ceramic fibres can be used to minimise the torque relaxation which requires retightening of bolts and increased maintenance activity. TSB support will enable the UK to investigate and exploit this opportunity as part of its clean energy policy, as well as creating job opportunities in high value manufacturing.