Fasteners play a vital role in large-scale bridge construction projects. Take a cross-river bridge as an example. The bridge is several kilometers long and consists of multiple huge steel structures and concrete segments. The connection between these segments relies on tens of thousands of high-strength bolt fasteners. These fasteners must not only bear the weight of the bridge itself, but also cope with the wind, thermal expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes, and dynamic loads when vehicles pass by.

Problem Analysis:
The main challenges faced by bridge fasteners include: bearing huge tensile and shear forces for a long time, preventing loosening and corrosion, and ensuring stability under extreme weather conditions. Once the fasteners fail, it may cause damage to the bridge structure or even collapse, seriously affecting public safety.

Solution:

Use high-strength bolts: Use bolts with strength levels of 10.9 or higher that meet international standards to ensure sufficient load-bearing capacity.

Anti-corrosion treatment: The bolts are subjected to anti-corrosion treatment such as hot-dip galvanizing or Dacromet to improve their durability in humid environments.

Preload control: Use a torque wrench to precisely control the preload of the bolts to ensure a tight connection and reduce the risk of loosening.

Regular inspection and maintenance: Establish a regular inspection system, use ultrasonic testing and other technologies to monitor the status of fasteners, and replace damaged or severely corroded fasteners in a timely manner.