BOLT LOADING

Bolted joint loaded in tension are frequently encountered in design of detachable

fasteners. Detachable fastenings may be required for the purpose of holding or adjustment

in assembly or service, inspection, repair, or replacement, or it may be for manufacturing or

assembly reasons. The parts may be rigidly connected, or provision may be made for

predetermined relative motion.

The bolt has a head at one end and a nut fitted to the other. Other types of fastening

devices are the tap bolt, studs, cap screws, and setscrews. Unless otherwise stated,

specification of screw fastenings refers to the major diameter of the fastening. Thus, a ½-

inch bolt refers to a bolt ½-inch in outside diameter. ISO metric screw thread is designated

by the letter “M” followed by the value of the nominal diameter and the pitch expressed in

millimeters, separated by the sign “X”. Tolerance is designated by a tolerance zone behind

a hyper that follows size designation. A small letter represents external thread (i.e. bolt),

while capital letter represents internal thread (i.e. nuts).

Example M6 x 0.75 – 6g

M6 x 0.75 – 6H

As a general rule, the absence of pitch indications means that a coarse pitch is

specified.

Assignment: With good sketches, show examples of the above screw fastenings. Sketch

bolt and nut and relations of do, dr, h, etc., or give table

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1.1 Resultant Load on Bolt

The resultant load F on the bolt is determined by

𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + 𝑚3 + ⋯ . 𝑚𝑛
𝐹 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 ( )
𝑏 + 𝑚1 + 𝑚2 + 𝑚3 + ⋯ . 𝑚𝑛

𝑚
𝐹 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 ( )
𝑚+𝑏

Where,

𝐹1 = initial load on bolt due to tightening, N

𝐹2 = external load, N

𝐹 = resultant load on bolt due to 𝐹1 and 𝐹2

m1, m2, m3, ….mn are defined as deflection in m/N of load for the bolted members M1,

M2, M3, …. Mn (these refer to all parts in the bolted assembly including the gasket).

m = sum of m1, m2, m3, …. mn

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 b is defined as the deflection in m/N of load for the bolt.

Bolted parts separated, or failure is said to occur when the external load equals the

resultant axial load on the bolt i.e. F2 = F

Review

(i) (a) What can you say about stiffness m for “soft materials” and hence the equation

for resultant load, F?

(b) Hard materials (gasket) with “soft” bolt?

(ii) What is the relationship between m and E (modulus of elasticity) of a given

material?

(iii) Can we write equation for F in terms of moduli of elasticity of materials and the

bolts?

𝑎
𝐹 = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 ( );
1+𝑎

𝐸𝑚
Where, a =
𝐸𝑏

The operative equation may be obtained as follows:

Consider two members bolted together, as shown in the Free Body Diagrams (FBDs)

for:

(i) initial tightening load, and

(ii) after an eternal load are shown note that the change in length of the bolt (tensile)

is equal to the change in length of the bolted members (compressive), if there is no

separation of parts.

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 Now,

(∆𝐿)𝑏 = (∆𝐿)1 + (∆𝐿)2

And, (𝑤 − 𝑤1 )𝑏 = ⌊𝑤1 − (𝑤 − 𝑤2 )⌋𝑚1 + ⌊𝑤1 − (𝑤 − 𝑤2 )⌋𝑚2

𝑚
So that, w = 𝑤1 + 𝑤2 ( )
𝑚+𝑏

Practice Problem

1. Several members are bolted together in such a manner that the deflection per unit load

(material stiffness) for the bolted members is the same as for the bolt.

(a) If an initial tightening load on the bolt is 40 kN, what is the resultant bolt load for an

external load of 50 kN.

(b) If the bolt will loosen when the external load is equal to the resultant load, determine

the magnitude of this load.

𝑚
(a) F = F 1 - F2
𝑚+𝑏
But, m=b

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 𝑚
⇒ =½
𝑚+𝑏

:. Therefore, F = 40+50 (½) = 65kN

(b) F = F2
𝑚
So that, F = F 1 - F2 ( ) 1/2
𝑚+𝑏
F2 – F1 ½

Therefore, F2 = 2F1 = 2x40 kN = 80 kN

i.e., the assembly cannot withstand external load above 80kN

Further examples: Halowenko & Laughlin 13.4,13.5, 13.6.

Problem 13.4

The bolted assembly has been preloaded by tightening the nut so that the bolt has an

initial load of 5.3 kN. If the ratio of the deflection per N of load for the members to the

deflection per N of load for bolt is 1/3 what is the magnitude of the bolt load when an external

load F2 = 9.6 kN is applied as shown.

Solution

Given that, F1= 5.3 kN, F2 = 9.6 kN, and m/b = 1/3

Thus from,
𝑚
F = F1 + F 2 ( )
𝑚+𝑏

𝑚/𝑏
F = 5.3 + 9.6( )
𝑚/𝑏+1

1/3
= 5.3 +9.6 ( )
1/3+1

F = 7.7 kN

Note that F2 > F:

Hence, members have separated and the bolt and would then be equal to the external load.

Therefore, F = 9.6 kN

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13.6

An M12 bolt, 250mm long, is subjected to an impact load. The kinetic energy to be

absorbed to 4J.

(a) Determine the stress in the shank of the bolt if there is no threaded portion between

the nut and the bolt head.

(b) Find the stress in the shank of the area of the shank is reduced to that of the root

area of the threads.

Solution

(a) U = 4J, d0 = 12mm

𝐹 𝐹 𝐹𝐿
From U = 𝛿 = ( )
2 2 𝐴𝐸
√2𝐴𝐸𝑈
Therefore, F = = 26.9 kN.
𝐿

On impact, the bolt stretches, the limit of reduced diameter being the root area (this

elongation occurs at hard tightening).

Hence the stress (neglecting stress concentration) on the root area is,
𝐹
S= = 2.69 x 104 / 76.2 x 10-4 (Root area of M12 bolt being 76.2 mm2)
𝐴𝑟

= 353 MPa

(c) If the diameter of the shank diameter equal to the root diameter of the thread. r

√2𝐴r EU
Then F = = 22.1kN
𝐿

On hard tightening, no further reduction in cross-sectional area.

𝐹
Then, 𝑆 = = 290 MPa (Much smaller than the stress in (b); showing the gains of
𝐴𝑟
making the shank diameter equal to the root diameter). Practically, how can this be done?

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1.1.1 Tightening-up Stress

Tightening-up stresses (F1) in bolts are highly indeterminate. The judgment of the

mechanic in selecting a wrench and in applying the force cannot be predicted with accuracy.

An equation for estimating the tightening up load (F1).

F1 = kd (2)

Where, F1 = initial axial load due to tightening up, N.

d = nominal diameter of bolt, M.

k = 1.75 x 106 to 2.8 x106 N/m (2.806 N/M)

The upper limit (2.806 N/M) is as determined for making steam joints and lower value

is used for fastening not set up as tight as for a steam-tight joint. However, if a torque wrench

is used to tighten the bolt, the initial bolt load, F, may be approximated by
𝑇
F1 = ; T is the applied tightening torque.
0.2𝑑

Lecture 1 ends, give assignment.

1.2 Shear Stress

Stresses induced in tension bolts are the result of torsional shear combined with
𝑇r 16𝑇
resultant axial bolt load. Recall that txy = = ;
𝐽 𝜋𝑑3

The maximum shear stress in a tension bolt may be calculated by

𝐹2 16𝑇𝑓
𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = + (3)
2𝐴𝑟 𝑑𝑟3

Where,

Tmax = maximum shear stress in the body of the screw, N/m2

Ar = root area, m2

Tf = thread torque, Nm

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dr = root diameter of thread, m

F = resultant axial bolt load, N.

For less conservative design, Ar and dr may be replaced by As and ds based on stress

area, which is a mean of the average pitch diameter area and the average minor diameter

√4 𝐴 𝑆
area, and ds =
𝜋

Reflections

What happens to Equation 3, once the mechanics stops tightening (i.e. T = 0).

This implies that, if a well-designed bolt does not fail in hard tightening, it will not fail in

service.

1.3 Impact stresses

Import stresses result when bolts are subjected to suddenly applied, or impact loads.

When a bolt is subjected to shock loading, as in the case of a cylinder-head bolt of an

internal-combination engines the resilience of the bolt should be considered in order to

prevent breakage at the threads.

Resilience is defined as the energy that is returned by a member upon release of the

applied load. If a member is not stressed beyond the elastic limit, it is capable of returning

all the energy of deformation; if stressed beyond the elastic limit, it will return only a portion

of the energy of deformation, the energy not returned being consumed in permanently

deforming the member.

Resilience: is therefore a property of a material and it is a measure of its shock-resisting

ability.

𝑆𝑒2
Mathematical it is
2𝐸
(Se = stress at elastic limit)

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 (E = modulus of elasticity)

Or, Impact energy per unit volume

From U = ½ F𝛿

If a bolt of the usual form having a full–sized shank and threaded portion is used to

support a tensile load, the stress in the threaded part will be higher than that in the shank. If

a tensile load is suddenly applied, the energy absorbed by each unit volume will be

proportional to the square of its stress at the same location; hence a large part of the energy

will be absorbed at the region of the threaded part.

However if the shank of the bolt is turned down the shank will undergo a higher stress

and hence will absorbed a greater proportion of the energy, thus relieving the material at the

section near the thread.

If the shank of the bolt is turned down to a diameter corresponding to that at the root

of the threads, or even slightly less, the static strength of the bolt will not be decreased.

The resilience of a bolt also may be increased by increasing its length of the bolt (i.e.

portion between the nut and the bolt head).

F = S,A, = S2 A2 : Tension in bolt

𝑆12 𝐿1 𝐴1 𝑆22 𝐿2 𝐴2
U= + : Energy absorbed by shank & thread portion of bolt
2𝐸 2𝐸

𝐴2 𝐿2
= 𝑆22 𝐴2 𝐿2 ( + )
𝐴1 𝐿1
How do we improve impact energy absorption of bolt in the assembly?
𝑆2
Improved resilience 2, Decrease A1
2𝐸

1.4 Height of Nut

The approximately thickness of a nut required for equality of strengths of a bolt in

tension and of the thread in shear may be estimated assembly each turn of thread supports

an equal part of the resultants load, W

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 Thus for bolt in tension W = ¼ 𝜋dr2 St

and for thread in shear W = 𝜋drhSs and for which

h = ½ dr or

However, the assumption that each thread supports an equal share of the load is

incorrect because of the elongation of the bolt and the compression of the nut under load.

The load is concentrated on the part of the thread nearer the base of the nut. The form of

nut shown above allow a more equal distribution of the load and has been used in heavily

loaded bolt.

1.5 Locking Devices

In a tightened screw fastening there are two opposing external forces present: (1) a

loosening force due to the action of the axial load which tends to unscrew the fastening and

(2) the force of friction which tends to resist the unscrewing motion. Screw fastenings are

designed so that the friction force is expected to prevent unscrewing or loosening of the

fastening.

Ordinary threaded fastening generally remain tight under the action of static loads;

however many of these fastening become loose under the action of cyclic loads. The

fastenings subjected to pulsating service loads or to vibration require restraints from

loosening in addition to that offered by thread and collar friction. Some locking devices are

the jam nut or lock nut, castle nut with cotter pin, split nuts, ever lock, lock nut, elastic stop

nut and use of lock washers.

1.6 Bolt Failure

The location or placing of bolt in fastening is very important. Bolt should so located

that they will be subjected to tensile and/or shear loads, while bending of the fastening should

be reduced to a minimum. When bolts are subjected to direct shearing loads, they should

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be located and threaded so that the shearing load comes upon the body of the bolt and not

on the thread.

Bending of the fastening due to misalignment, tightening-up loads or extended loads

has been responsible for many failures. To relieve fastenings of bending stresses, the use

clearance spaces, spherical seat washers, or other devices may be necessary.

In highly stresses dynamically loaded bolts, it is important that tightness be

maintained. It can be reasoned that, if a well-designed bolt does not fail in hard tightening-

up, it will not fail in service. The reasoning is that, when the bolt is tightened, the stress will

be due to the tensile-load stress combined with the torsional stress due to the tightening

torque. The latter stress disappears on removal of the tightening torque hence, the remaining

stress is less than the maximum stresses during tightening.

If the initial tension was not high enough the resultant load on the bolt would be

affected by the external load which is cyclic failure of the bolt would then be on the basis of

cyclic failure and governed by the endurance limit of the material and stress concentration

(these are unfavourable). Making improvement in fatigue strength may be secured by using

undercut relieving grooves to relieve the concentrated stresses.

Tightness may also be lost in service if during operation, the bolted assembly is

reduced in thickness through wear, corrosion, embedding, or by displacement of material

such as soft plating, part of required tension will be lost and fatigue failure will follow.

Endurance (fatigue) limit is the maximum stress that a member subjected to a

completely reversed load can withstand for an infinite number of load applications without

failure. However to save weight machine members are designed for finite life (high than

endurance limit).

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Class Examples 10, 12

Assignment 11-15

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