14.

1 THE PROBLEM
When we tighten a fastener, we pump energy into it: tension, torsion, and bending
energy.
The fastener is a stiff spring, and we stretch, twist, and bend it.
After we let go, this energy is held in the fastener by friction constraints in the threads or
between contact faces of the nut and joint. If something overcomes or destroys these
friction
forces, the energy stored in the fastener will be released; the bolt will return to its
original
length with the inclined plane of the bolt threads pushing the inclined plane of the nut
threads
out of the way.
Subjecting the bolted joint to vibration will do this. Under certain circumstances, all
preload in the fastener will be lost as a result. In fact, the fastener itself can shake loose
and
be lost. This can be a severe problem for any product that is bounced around or handled
a
lotanything from a vehicle to a toy. Losing all preload or losing the fastener can, of
course,
lead to all sorts of other failures we would rather avoid. So its useful to know what
causes
vibration loosening and some of the things we can do to minimize or prevent it.
Note that vibration loosening is a common cause of what we have called clamping force
instability. That force can be significantly reduced, or lost altogether, as a result of
vibration.
It can also be lost by other forms of self-loosening, incidentally. Vibration may be the
most common, but transverse slip, flexing of joint members, thermal cycles, and other
things
can also cause a joint to loosen. The self-loosening mechanism is the same in each case,
however. Well assume that vibration is the culprit and focus on it for now. For further
information see the sources listed in Table 14.1.

14.2 HOW DOES A NUT SELF-LOOSEN?

We probably dont know why a fastener will self-loosen under vibration, shock, thermal
cycles, or the like. A number of theories have been advanced, and their authors believe
they
know, but the theories vary [1,2,12,2326,29]. They cant all be rightperhaps none are.
A few years ago an ASME committee attempted to establish a working group to resolve
the
question. It was decided that a substantial amount of money would be required to
finance the
necessary research; but the attempts to attract financial support drew a blank. The
project
was, therefore, abandoned.
Well examine one of the current theories in detail, and will briefly review one of the
others. Before we do that, lets take a look at some basic factors which form a part, at
least, of
most or all of the existing theories.
Everyone agrees that a threaded fastener will not loosen unless the friction forces
existing
between male and female threads are either reduced or eliminated by some external
mechanism
acting on the bolt and joint. The disagreements concern the type of mechanism that does
that.
Before looking at these mechanisms, lets examine these all important friction forces
were
trying to preserve.