Ch. 2.

Threaded Fasteners & Power Screws

THREAD

the ridge (channel) usually of uniform section, in the form

of a helix on the external or internal surface of a cylinder
or in the form of a conical spiral on the external or internal
surface of a cone or frustrum of cone
directrix helix
generating profile
p

d1(d3)
d1(d3)

d2

directrix cylinder

d2
d

Dedicated threaded components (fasteners) - screws, bolts, studs, pins, nuts

Various parts, threaded - caps, housings, wheels, etc
oct. 2005

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Typical threaded elements I

Eye bolt

Threaded pin (setscrew/grub screw)

Threaded oil sight glass cap

oct. 2005

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Typical threaded elements II

Clamping screw

Fan blade

Bolt

Clamped
parts

Split lock
washer
Hex Nut

oct. 2005

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Power screws I
Jack Screw
Convert rotary motion of either
the screw or the nut into
translation of the mating
member along the screw axis.
Also called
Lead screws
Translation screws
Linear actuators

oct. 2005

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Power screws applications

Micrometer

Turnbuckle

Swivel basc vice

Riggers vice

oct. 2005

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Power screws II
Rotating screw Translating screw
Rotating nut Translating screw
Rotating nut Translating nut
Rotating screw Translating nut

oct. 2005

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FUNCTIONS
To locate/join parts

(FASTENERS)

To measure length
To exert/transmit a force
To convert rotational motion to linear motion (or vice versa)
(POWER SCREWS)
Screw Mechanism = Self locking Mechanism

INFO
WWW.BOLTSCIENCE.COM
oct. 2005

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Screw thread forms

0.12p

R=0.137p

60

triangle
0.12p

p/2
60

55

60
0.87p

0.61p

0.54p

Unified National (inch size)

(a)
p
p/2
p/2

Square
(e)

square

Whitworth Standard
(b)
p
0.37p
p/2
29
p/2

Sharp V
(c)
p

ISO Metric
(d)

0.16p
7

p/2

45

p/2

0.66p

ACME (Trapezoidal)
(e)

Buttress

(f)

trapezoid

Knuckle
(g)

arc of circle
reduced stress
concentrator

POWER SCREWS
one directional loading
oct. 2005

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Screw thread dimensions

d

STANDARD

Pitch, p

Crest (major) dia (NOMINAL DIA)

Mean (pitch) dia,

d2
Root (minor) dia

d1 (d3 )

Centre axis

oct. 2005

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Screw thread dimensions

D4
Root (major) dia
Mean (pitch) dia

D2
Crest (minor) dia

D1

Pitch, p

Centre axis
d2 = D2
oct. 2005

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Screw thread dimensions

Internal thread
Mean (pitch) dia

External thread

Clearance

Centre axis

oct. 2005

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Metric screw standard dimensions

p

H/8
nut
H2

H1

H1=5H/8=0.541p

H/16
D

H=0.866p

60

H2=H1-H/16=0.487p

H/2

H/4
d2=D2

screw
D1

H/6

d1

screw & nut axis

THREAD
SPECIFICATION
oct. 2005

Type

M 40 1.5 LH
p
d
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Other details
Helix direction
Class of tolerances
No of starts
Traian CICONE

Metric screw classification

Number of starts
Single thread

Helix direction
Left hand

Thread series (pitch)

Coarse

Double thread

Right hand

Fine
Extra-fine
l

l
p

end of thread

end of thread

2
(a) Single thread right hand

Lead, l

2
(b) Double thread left hand

end of thread

Pitch, p

Pas

oct. 2005

Pas aparent

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FASTENERS - Terminology I
Screw head

Shank diameter- d0
usually about same as
nominal diameter
Helix angle,

Pitch, p

Shank
Runout
(end of thread)

Screw
body

Reduced shank
Elasticized bolt

Thread
Crest

Minor(root)
diameter, d1 (d3)
Major (nominal)
diameter, d

oct. 2005

d0 > d

d0 < d

Fillet

Root
Tip

Enlarged shank
Shoulder bolt
(fitted bolt)

Thread: type, d2 & p, details

Body: type, length, (d0)
Head & Tip type

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Threaded fasteners - Terminology I

washer
clearance

grip
length of
the screw

length of
engagement

clearance
(a) Screw

(b) Bolt & nut

grip

length of
engagement

(c) Stud & nut

oct. 2005

(d) Threaded rod & nuts

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Threaded fasteners

Round head
screw

Flat head
screw

Oval head
screw

Fillister head
screw

Cross-recessed
Hexagon-socket
head screw (Phillips) head screw

Round head
square neck screw
oct. 2005

Hex head
screw

Hex flange
head screw

Square head
screw
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Types of screw head

oct. 2005

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Socket Setscrews & Tapping Screws

Cone point

Flat point

Half-dog point

Oval point

Thread
forming
screws

Thread
cutting
screws

oct. 2005

Cup point

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Types of nuts

Square nut

Weld nut

Anchor nut

Cap (acorn)
nut

Hex plain nut

(Jam nut)

Speciality nut

Serrated nut

Castle nut

Wing nut

Panel nut

Speed nut

oct. 2005

Flanged nut

Palnut nut

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Spring nut

Barrel prong
nut

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Washers
Flat washer

External tooth
countersunk
lockwasher

Conical washer with

hardened teeth.
(Serrated washer)

Internal tooth
lockwasher

oct. 2005

Coil spring washer

Helical spring/Split
spring/ Lockwasher

Conical spring
(Belleville)

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10

Materials
Power screw - power & motion transmission ACME/Square/Buttress
HARD / SOFT - to prevent excessive wear and seizure at high speed
STEEL / Cast iron, bronze
Metric - M

Fasteners - assembly

Normal application - low or medium carbon steel

SCREW

Important application - alloy steel (Mo, Ti, Ni-Cr)

Special application - brass, high-resistance plastics

NUT

Phosphorous wrought steel, alloy steel, plastics

MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
M40 15 - 6.8

SCREW

Y = min 68 10MPa

u = min 6100MPa
M40 - 6
oct. 2005

NUT
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Technology I
Chip removal (cutting)
Tap Drill
(Drill bit)

Drilling
d0

60

oct. 2005

Reaming

minor diameter
of the thread

L drill
depth

Counterboring

crest
diameter d

Threading

chamfer
c45

Taper Tap
l

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Technology II
Thread milling

Thread cutting (lathe)

oct. 2005

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Technology III
Plastic deformation
Thread rolling = cold forming process

oct. 2005

(rolling or forming)
External thread cutting with die

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12

Forces and moments acting in a screw pair I

directrix helix
generating profile
p

d1(d3)
d1(d3)

d2

directrix cylinder

d2
d

p - pitch

p
tan 2 =
d2

2 mean lead angle

d2 - mean diameter

oct. 2005

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Forces and moments acting in a screw pair - II

r r
r r
T + Ff + N + F = 0
F

F
T

F f = N

2
b) unwind thread

tan( ) =

d1

2
F

d2
d

Ff

N
N

a) detail of a square thread

with a part of a nut

c) screwing up
(tightening)

friction between threads

load displacement

T cos 2 N F sin 2 = 0

T sin 2 + N F cos 2 = 0

T = F tan ( 2 + )
oct. 2005

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Forces and moments acting in a screw pair

T = F tan( 2 )

Screwing down (loosening)

2
F

Self-locking condition
(No overhauling)

2 <

/2
N

Ff

Inclined flank of the thread

*

2 <

Ff = N * =

*=

cos( 2 )

N
cos( 2 )
tan *= *

T = F tan 2 *

Tightening torque

M t1 = T

oct. 2005

d2
d
= F 2 tan 2 *
2
2

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Forces and moments acting in a screw pair

1) Tightening torque

M t1 = T

d2
d
= F 2 tan 2 *
2
2

2) Friction torque
a) Collar (constant contact pressure)
S 2

(i)

Mt2 =

c rp 2r d r = c

D0 2

(ii)
oct. 2005

M t 2 = c FRm

F S 3 D03

3 S 2 D02

p=const
.

Do

Rm =

S + D0
4

dr

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Forces and moments acting in a screw pair

2) Friction torque
F

b) Bearing surface (constant contact pressure)

dd00

d0 2

Mt2 =

r c p( 2r d r ) = c F
0

d0
3

c) Rolling element bearing

F
d

M t 2 = b FRm

Rm =

d+D
4

Rm
D
oct. 2005

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Conclusions
Total torque

M tot = M t1 + M t 2 = K F

M tot = KF = Lw S a

(a) F = (60 100) S a

K (0.15 0.20 ) d

Lw (1215) d

The thread is an important force amplifier

(b) The total axial load acting upon the screw can not be accurately known
Lw
Sa

oct. 2005

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15

Torque - Axial Load Relationship

50,0

Tightening Torque, Mt` [Nm]

=0.4

M101.5

40,0

=0.2
=0.1

30,0

=0.05

Mt123Nm
20,0

=0.01
10,0

no friction

0,0
0

10000

20000

F 19 kN !
oct. 2005

30000

40000

Axial force F , [N]

50000

F 46 kN !

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Total Torque Efficiency

100%

M101.5

Torque

80%

14%
31%

36%

19%

39%

41%

60%

41%
48%

40%

66%
20%

Useful
Torque

28%

16%

0%

=0.01
oct. 2005

Friction on
collar

=0.05

=0.1
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Friction in
threads

52%

54%

9%

5%

=0.2

=0.4
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16

Efficiency of a threaded pair

Lu
Li

useful work

Lu = Fp

input work

Li = 2M tot

=0.01 ( =0.6o)

Efiiciency,

0.8

only for threaded pair Li = 2M t1

=0.05 ( =3o)
=0.1 ( =5.7o)

Fp
tan 2
=
d 2T tan 2 + *

( 2 )max = 41 42

=0.2 ( =11.3o)
0.6

( 2 )typical = 2 6

0.4
square thread
ISO Metric thread

0.2

0
0

10

20

30

40

50

Pitch angle, 2

oct. 2005

60

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Solutions to increase efficiency I

=0.01 ( =0.6o)

Efiiciency,

0.8

=0.05 ( =3o)
=0.1 ( =5.7o)

=0.2 ( =11.3o)
0.6

Fp
tan 2
=
d 2T tan 2 + *

0.4
square thread
ISO Metric thread

0.2
0
0

10

20

30

40

Pitch angle, 2

50

60

(ii) Hydrostatic screw

(i) Multiple start screw

tan 2 =
oct. 2005

l
d2

For the same pitch,

p, 2 increases

Very low friction coefficient

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17

Solutions to increase efficiency II

(iii) Ball screw
= 0.85...0.95

Multiple circuit ball screw

oct. 2005

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Solutions for increased efficiency III

(iv) Rolling element power screw (Planetary roller-screw)

oct. 2005

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18

Preloaded fasteners in tension

F 0
F00

F=0
F00

F=0
F0=0

ls

lf

F0
F0

c)

b)

a)

1. Preloading=tightening F0
2. Operation, F
oct. 2005

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Joint stiffness
BOLT STIFFNESS

Equivalent stiffness

Example

l
1
= i
k s/f
i Ei Ai

l1

d0

1 1 4l 1 4l 2

=
+
k s E d 02 d 22

l2

CLAMPED PARTS STIFFNESS

unconfined
gasket

confined
O-ring

oct. 2005

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19

Joint stiffness FEM analysis

FEM
model

F=24 kN
Di=17 mm
Do=20 mm
pm=275 MPa
pmax=347 MPa

Simplified
model

60

oct. 2005

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Joint diagram Preload

k f = tan( f ) l f =

F0
kf

l s =

Joint
compression
line

F0
ks

k s = tan( s )

Bolt extension line

F0
l

Extension

Compression

lf

oct. 2005

ls

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20

Joint diagram Applied force

Bolt force increase

ls

F
Fz

lf

Total force in the bolt Ft

c)

b)

a)

F0 Joint clamp
force
decrease

F0

F 0

Residual
clamping force

lf

ls

F
F
= z = 0
ks ks

F0
F00

F=0
F00

F=0
F0=0

F0 = F0 F0

Ft = F0 + Fz

F = Fz + F0

oct. 2005

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Joint diagram Forces & Practical conclusions

Bolt force increase

Fz = F

ks
ks + k f

Ft = F0 + Fz = F0 + F

Total force in the bolt

kf

Joint clamp force decrease

F0 = F

Residual clamping force

F0 = F0 F0 = F0 F

ks + k f

Objectives
Low force in the bolt

Ft

CONTRADICTION
High residual force in the joint

oct. 2005

ks
ks + k f

F0

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kf
ks + k f

ks
=
ks + k f

kf
ks + k f

1+

1
kf

1+

1
ks

ks

kf
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21

Joint diagram Applied force

F*t

Ft
F0

F0
F 0

F 0

l
ls

oct. 2005

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Joint diagram Variable loading & Practical conclusions

Reduced shank down to the stress
diameter of the bolt in this regions
to reduce the bolt stiffness

Elastic bolts
Rigid clamped parts

Fz

Ft

F0

F0

oct. 2005

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F0

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22

Elastic bolts for connecting rod big end

oct. 2005

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Joint diagram Joint embedding

F
Amount of joint
deformation due
to embedding

Preload after
embedding

F0
l

oct. 2005

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23

Bolt failures
Failure through the shank or
threaded section of the fastener

15%

20%

65%

Stress concentrators

true
average
Stripping of the external or internal thread

Failure of the threaded part

Wear of the mating surfaces

Plastic deformation of the turns
Rupture of the turns

oct. 2005

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Bolt failures

www.boltscience.com

oct. 2005

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24

Bolt failures Vise Power Screw

oct. 2005

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Thread Strength Calculation - Bearing Pressure

ASSUMPTION

Uniform load repartition among the engaged turns P = F / z

P=F/z

1. Contact stress

Bolt

Contact surface - plane & annular

H1

d2
a

30K80MPa fixed
5K30MPa mobile

D4

k =

oct. 2005

h/2

Nut
d1(d3)
D1
d2 (D2)

ak =

F/z

F/z

(d

50/63

D12

F/z
< ak
d 2 H1
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25

Thread Strength Calculation - Bending & Shear

2. Bending stress
Screw
b =

F d 2 d1(3)

z
2

d1(3) g

F/z

Cantilever beam
P=F/z

<

Bolt

h/2

ab

Nut

6
d1(d3)
D1
d2 (D2)

Nut

F D4 D2

2
z
<
b =
ab
D4 g 2
6

H1

d2
h

d
D4

3. Shear stress (Stripping)

s =

F/z
<
d1(3) g as

Screw

s =

F/z
<
Nut
D1 g as

eq = b2 + 4 s2 < at

Compound stress
oct. 2005

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Stress Repartition
Uniform load repartition among the
engaged turns - CRITICIZABLE

Elasticized nut
bolt

nut

P
Force flow lines
clamped
memeber

50%
30%
20%
Number of mating
threads z=max 10
oct. 2005

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26

Thread Strength Calculation

REMARKS
Number of mating threads
z=max 10

p (0.1K 0.2 )d

Length of engagement
=max (1.5-2) d
m

Contact stress length of engagement

No need to calculate standard fastening screws

m 0 .8 d
D0 1.7 d
m
D0

oct. 2005

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Screw Body Strength Calculation - Static loading

A. Centrally loaded

Critical cross-section - threaded zone

Effective cross-section - root diameter

1. Traction/Compression

t ,c =

2. Torsion

oct. 2005

d12(3)

(= at ,c )

M t1

16

Compound stress

d13(3)

eq = 2 + 4 2 < at

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27

Screw Body Strength Calculation - Time variable loading

Fz

Tension - fluctuating cycle

Fmin = F0

F0
F

Ft

Fmax = F0 + Fz

F0

F0

Torque is constant during variable loading

16M t

m =
c = c
v = 0
d13(3)
m

ceq =

Fm = F0 +

m =

Fz
2

4 Fm
d12(3)
c =

Fz
2
4 Fv
v =
d12(3)

1
K v

c cv

Fv =

m
c

c2 + cv2

oct. 2005

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Screw Dimensioning
A. Statically loaded
d1(3) >

4 F

at ,c

Total torque Mtot not known -- estimated with

= 1 .2 1 .5

Typical value

=1.3

B. Variable (dynamically) loaded

d2
F0 = (0.6 0.8) Y 1
4

oct. 2005

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28

Fasteners in shear
A) Clearance

B) Close fit

l1

l2

d0

F=

1. Bearing pressure k =

2. Shear stress

oct. 2005

T
d0 l min

s =

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4T

d02

Traian CICONE

Locking devices
Prevail screw loosening (nuts, washers or else)
Principle of the operation
Free-spinning
locknuts

(A) Solutions which exert supplementary forces into

the assembly nut and jam nut, split-lock washer,
spring head, etc.

Prevailing torque
locknuts

(B) Solutions which do not exert supplementary

loads into the assembly (which use the shape or
the friction force in order to lock the assembly)
cotter pin and castle nut, pin-lock nut, distortion
nut, etc.

oct. 2005

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29

Locknuts
Elliptical or polygon locknut

Split locknut

(a)

Adhesive

(b)

Distorted threads

(c)

(d)

Pin locknut
Nylon insert

(e)

Nut & jam-nut

(f)

(g)
oct. 2005

(h)

Nut & twistedtooth washer

Spring nut

Spring-top nut

(i)

(j)

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Lock nuts

Castle nut

Slotted nut

Nut and split

spring washers

oct. 2005

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30

Thread insert
Repairing solution

oct. 2005

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CONCLUSIONS I
Operating Features / Applications

High force amplifier for clamping, sealing, tensioning, lifting, etc.

Adjustment of relative position (leading screw) in positioning devices
Transformation of the motion (rotation translation)
Length measurement

oct. 2005

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31

CONCLUSIONS II
Positive Features
High clamping load with moderate tightening force
Small overall dimensions
Great variety of design solutions, adapted to all types of applications
Simple technology
Shortcomings
High stress concentration in the threaded zone (K 2...4)
Difficult to control exactly the clamping load
Requires supplementary solutions to secure clamping
Low mechanical efficiency
Does not ensure centering of the assembled parts
Does not provide sealing
oct. 2005

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32