Ryoji Okada, one of the development engineers behind the STREAL semiconductor strain sensor, has been appointed as an the Company for the Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry's Research and Development Support Program for Growth-oriented Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, "Research and Development of Long-Term Stable Management Methods for Introducing Tension Forces into Large-Diameter, High-Strength Bolts in Corrosive Environments."

In the near future, floating offshore super wind turbines will be introduced in large numbers, and the floating structures (towers) that float on the sea are expected to become larger and have a split, bolted structure. However, there are concerns that there are no standards for the large bolts used for fastening, and that the increasing size will make offshore installation and management more difficult.

This support project is being promoted by bolt manufacturers and distributors, Hamax Corporation, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Sasebo National College of Technology, and Nagasaki Prefectural Industrial Technology Center.
1) Management methods for large bolts, 2) development of testing equipment, and 3) standardization of management methods will be developed.

Offshore wind power plants require the condition of fastening bolts to be measured regularly. Conventionally, measurements have been done manually, but this is dangerous work due to the high altitude. It is generally said that maintenance of an offshore wind turbine costs 5 to 10 million yen per unit per year. In order to efficiently measure the axial force of these bolts, the use of STREAL to measure bolt axial force is being considered.

Please look forward to the Company continued efforts in offshore wind turbines.