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

Quimby & Associates

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

fy =Py/(Abnb)

Find Bolt
Stresses
due to
Vertical
Force

fx =Px/(Abnb)

Find Bolt
Stresses
due to
Horizontal
Force

Find Bolt
Stresses
due to
Moment
fmi = M ri / J
fmxi = fmi * dyi/ci
fmyi = fmi * dxi/ci

Bolt stresses due to Moment are

perpendicular to radial lines from
the center of the bolt group

The resultant stress in

each fastener equals the
vector sum of the
stresses applied to it.
fi = sqrt[(fyi + 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