Fasteners for structural bolted joints to be assembled in remote handling

Fasteners are generally considered a matter of a mature technology with a variety of solutions ready to meet a wide range of applications, but their use in remote handling needs accurate considerations. stening system has a substantial effect on the total time to perform maintenance operations, and therefore care should be taken from the beginning of the project to its standardization. t of requirements to be satisfied by a qualification activity on fasteners to be remotely handled within the environmental conditions relevant to the NET—ITER machine (high temperature, radiation, vacuum, cryogenic temperature) deals with shape and dimensions, materials properties, surface finish of mating parts, lubricant compatibility, precautions against galling and seizure, provisions of remedial actions from an emergency situation, fabrication process specification, methods of preload application and control of its persistence under machine operation. alification of high strength bolts at cryogenic temperature (4 K) and relevant fracture mechanics tests, and the qualification of suitable coatings and lubricants has been extensively investigated on both specimens and full size components. s paper we report final results of a three-year development programme on fastener technology.