By T. Bart Quimby, P.E., Ph.D.

Quimby & Associates

Elastic Method
Move
Horizontal
Force to
Center of
Bolt Group

Move
Vertical
Force to
Center of
Bolt Group

Break force
into its
components

Combine
the Two
Moments
into One

Elastic Method
f y =Py/(Abnb)

Find Bolt
Stresses
due to
Vertical
Force

fx =Px/(Abnb)

Find Bolt
Stresses
due to
Horizontal
Force

fmi = M ri / J
fmxi = fmi * dyi/ci
fmyi = fmi * dxi/ci

Find Bolt
Stresses
due to
Moment

Bolt stresses due to Moment are

perpendicular to radial lines from
the center of the bolt group

Elastic Method
The resultant stress in each
fastener equals the vector
sum of the stresses applied
to it.
fi = sqrt[(f yi + fmyi)2 + (fxi + fmxi)2]
Pi = fi Ab

Elastic Method
Good
Very easy and straight forward use of Mechanics
Not so Good
Very conservative
Not consistent with test results resulting in a widely
variable factor of safety