Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Primarily from:
Bickford, John H., An Introduction to the Design and Behavior of Bolted Joints, Marcel
Dekker, Inc., NY, 1990.
This Mathcad sheet is one integrated model. If you cut out some portions to paste them
elsewhere, be aware of which variables have been defined in other parts of the sheet.
Table of
Contents
Preliminary Definitions
Derived Units
Material Properties
Behavior of Bolt Material
Bolt Terminology and
Notation
Define Bolt Geometry
Strength
Stress Area of Bolts
Strength of Bolts
Strength of the Threads
Stiffness
Stiffness of the Bolt
Stiffness of the Joint
Material
Total Joint Stiffness
Slocum's Approach
6
Esteel := 30 10 psi Young's modulus of steel := 0.3
steel
6
Ealum := 10 10 psi Young's modulus of alum := 0.3
aluminum
E := Esteel
y := 57 ksi y
Yield
y :=
strength E
u := 74 ksi Ultimate
strength
p := 6 % Strain at peak check on the last
stress three
f := 70 ksi Stress at
failure
f := 12 % Strain at
failure
The function below is a piece wise linear approximation of the stress strain curve as
defined above.
T
p y f p
vx := 0 y y + p p + f
4 2
T
u y u f
vy := 0 ksi y y + u f + f
1.5 1.5
f
( ) := linterp( vx , vy, ) := 0 , .. f
20
8
( ) 3 10
This plot shows the
u 8 stress/strain behavior
2 10
of
y the bolt material.
8
1 10
0
0 0.05 0.1
Bolt Terminology / Notation
Lthread
Lhead
Lbody
D
ESmin
Lnut
Lgrip
Nominal
D := 16 mm
Diameter
Thread p := 2 mm
pitch
Threads per 1 1
n := n = 152.4 ft
inch p
2
Abody := D Ahead := 2 Abody Anut := Ahead
4
Lbody := 50 mm
1
Lgrip := Lbody + Lthread
2
Strengt
h
Stress Area of Bolts
The area of the threaded portion of the bolt that sees the stress (sometimes called the
stress area) is critical. There are several ways to calculate it. Select the appropriate
equation below and ensure that it is the only active equation (use "Toggle Equation" in the
Math menu).
English
Units
2
As := 0.785 D
0.985 (Bickford, pg. 23) - Based on the mean of the
n
pitch and root diameters for 60 degree
threads.
2
As := 0.7854 D
1.3
Root area. More
n Conservative.
2
As := 0.7854 D
1.3
ASME Boiler and pressure vessel
n code.
Metric
p = 2 mm Pitch of the
threads
2
As := 0.7854 ( D 1.22687 p ) Root area. More
Conservative.
Strength of the
Bolt
Define the approximate stress distribution in a bolt
6
110
5
810
5
610
bolt ( l)
5
410
5
210
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
l
The force (F) that a bolt can support before the shank (as opposed to the
threads)
fails is:
4
Fult := u As Fult = 1.772 10 lbf
4
Fy := y As Fy = 1.365 10 lbf
Strength of
Threads
Nut material stronger than the bolt material
Bolt threads typically fail at the root. The total cross sectional area at that point is needed
for bolt strength calculations.
Le := .2 in Length of thread
engagement
This section continues to use
Knmax := 0.257 in Maximum ID of a 1/4-20 bolt as an example.
nut
ESmin := 0.2 in Minimum PD of
bolt
1
n := 20 in Threads per
inch
Shear Area
ATS := n Le Knmax + 0.57735 ( ESmin Knmax )
1
n
2 2
ATS = 0.055 in As = 0.24 in
According to miltary standard FED-STD-H28, when the nut material is much stronger
than the bolt material, the shear area is approximated within 5% by the formula
5
ATS := ESmin Le
8
2
ATS = 0.079 in
Rearranging, one can calculate the minimum thread engagement required to ensure
that the bolt fails rather than the threads.
2 As
Le :=
5
ESmin
8
Le
= 1.936
D Which is a fairly typical ratio for a nut one might purchase.
Nut material weaker than the bolt material
If threads are tapped into a weak material (cast iron, Aluminum, plastic), the nut threads
may fail first even though the shear area is greater.
Le := .2 in Length of thread
engagement
This section continues to use
Enmax := 0.257 in Maximum PD of a 1/4-20 bolt as an example.
nut
DSmin := 0.25 in Minimum OD of bolt
threads
1
n := 10 in Threads per
inch
Sst := u Tensile strength of bolt
material
u
Snt := Tensile strength of nut material
2
Rearranging, one can estimate the minimum thread engagement required to ensure
that the bolt fails rather than the nut threads.
Sst ( 2 As)
Le :=
Snt Enmax
3
4
Le = 1.582 in
10
9.1
8.2
7.3
6.4
Le/D
5.5
4.6
3.7
2.8
1.9
1
0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Snut/Sbolt
Stiffnes
s
Using the stress vs length graph from the strength section above, total deflection of
the bolt under load can be estimated as:
5
Lbolt = 2.32 10 in
This means that the spring constant of the bolt (and the
nut) is:
Fp 6 lbf
Kbolt := Kbolt = 2.155 10
Lbolt in
Stiffness of the Joint Material
6
Ejoint := 30 10 psi
The area of an equivalent cylinder of material that is placed in compression as the bolt is
loaded in tesion is computed below. This model assumes:
1) Elastic material behavior.
2) Concentric joint - The bolt goes through the center of the joint material.
3) The load is applied along the joint axis.
Dj
Db
Dh
If the thickness of the upper and lower joint layers are
equal:
2
Ac( Dj) := Dj Dh if Db Dj
2
4
Db T T
2
Dj
Db Dh
2
1
2
+ + if Db < Dj 3 Db
4 Db 8 5 100
2
T
Db + h otherwise
2
D
4 10
Thanks to Alan Duke, Technical Director of Goodrich Fuel and Utility Systems for
correcting an error in a previous version.
Bickford (pg. 111) also indicates that the two last cases apply only when
T<8D.
He doesn't say what to do if T>8D.
Finally, the stiffness of the joint material in compression is
given by:
Lx
Tmin
Lx
Lx
b
Lx
s := 1 in Distance the bolt is off
center.
a := 2 in Distance the load is off
center
R G := 0.209 Dj Radius of gyration if joint is rectanugular viewed down the bolt. Dj is
the length of the shorter side.
Dj
R G := Radius of gyration if joint is circular viewed down the
2 bolt.
t := 3 in Distance between
bolts
Tmin := .2 in Thickness of the thinner joint cross
section.
W := 5 in Total width of the
joint
b := t if t ( Db + Tmin )
Db + Tmin otherwise
Aj := b W if W Db + Tmin
b ( Db + Tmin ) otherwise
If the joint contains a gasket, the gasket stiffness may dominate the stiffness of the
joint. Gasket material stiffness values are tabulated in Bickford pp.121-2. Use these
values with care as gasket stiffness is often highly non-linear and hysteretic.
2
Ag := 0.5 in
Area of the gasket viewed looking down the
bolt
MPa
Kg := 35 Ag Compressed asbestos, 0.125 mm
mm thick.
100 lbf
Kg := 10 If there is no
in gasket
6 lbf
Kbolt = 2.155 10 100 lbf
in Kg = 1 10
in
6 lbf
Kj = 5.407 10 Kwasher := 10 Kbolt
in
1
Kjoint := 6 lbf
1 1 1 1 Kjoint = 1.438 10
+ + + in
Kbolt Kwasher Kj Kg
Slocum's Method
Slocum offers an alternative to the methods given
above.
According to Slocum, if the bolt produces a 45 deg cone of
influence:
Ejoint Dh
Kflange_comp :=
( Dh Db 2 Lgrip) ( Dh + Db) Kflange_comp = 4.143 10
7 lbf
ln
( Dh + Db + 2 Lgrip) ( Dh Db)
in
Kflange_comp
= 7.663
Kj
Lgrip Ejoint
Kflange_shear :=
( 1 + ) ln( 2 ) 8 lbf
Kflange_shear = 3.088 10
in
Kflange_shear
= 57.122
Kj
Enut := Esteel
D Enut
Kbed_shear := 7 lbf
( 1 + ) ln( 2 ) Kbed_shear = 6.589 10
in
Kbed_shear
= 12.186
Ebolt := Esteel Kj
2
Ebolt D
Kbolt :=
4 + Lgrip
D Kbolt
= 1.989
2 Kjoint
1
Ksum :=
1 1 1 1
+ + +
Kflange_comp Kflange_shear Kbed_shear Kbolt
Kinterface := 5 Ksum Stiffness of the interface between the two joint material faces
(e.g., the bed and the rail)
Kone_bolted_joint
Comparing Slocum's result to = 1.478
Bickford's Kjoint
Which a a fairly good agreement (mostly
because the bolt stiffness is in good
agreement
and tends to dominate).
6 lbf
Kpart := 10
in Nbolts := 8
1
Ksystem :=
1 Nbolts
+
Kpart Kone_bolted_joint
One can vary the number of bolts and bolt diameter to find different
bolted
joint designs with the same stiffness.
Tightening Bolted
Joints
Calculating torque (Tin) required to generate a desired preload level
p = 0.079 in Thread
pitch
n := 0.1 Coefficient of friction between the face of the nut and the upper
surface of the joint (or the washer).
rn := 0.6 D Effective contact radius of the contact between the nut and
joint surface.
p t rt 3
Tin := Fp + + n rn Tin = 1.014 10 in lbf
2 cos( )
One can instead rely on an experimental constant, the nut factor (Knut) that combines
all the terms above. Knut values are tabulated in Bickford (pp. 141-143).
Knut := 0.2 steel on
steel
3
Tin := Fp Knut D Tin = 1.72 10 in lbf
Fp
Tu rn
4
Fp = 1.365 10 lbf
6 lbf
Kbolt = 2.861 10
in
6 lbf
Kj = 5.407 10
in
Kbolt + Kj
360 3
R := Fp R = 1.911 10 deg Turn angle to apply
p Kbolt Kj a preload of Fp.
Behavior of Joints in
Service
Externally Applied Forces
6 lbf
Kbolt = 2.861 10 Stiffness of the
in bolt
6 lbf
Kj = 5.407 10 Stiffness of the joint
in materials
6 lbf Stiffness of the whole
Kjoint = 1.438 10
in joint
4
Fp := 75 % Fy Fp = 1.024 10 lbf Preload
Force
Fp 3
OLbolt := OLbolt = 3.579 10 in Extension of the bolt due to
Kbolt preload.
Fp 3
OLj := OLj = 1.894 10 in Compression of the joint due to
Kj preload.
F ext
Externally applied force. Applies tension to the
base of the bolt head and nut.
F ext
Kj 3
Fj := Fext Fj = 5.232 10 lbf
Kj + Kbolt
Fj
Lj := Lbolt := Lj
Kj
3
Fbolt := Kbolt Lbolt Fbolt = 2.768 10 lbf
If the applied force > Fcrit then all of the additional applied force is borne by the bolt alone.
This is critical because while there is some clamping force the ratio additional load seen by
the bolt due to applied load is:
Fcrit Also note that the critical load of the joint is always higher
= 1.529
Fp than the bolt preload. The ratio is higher when the joint is less
stiff compared to the bolt. This can be understood better by
studying the loint diagram below.
The Joint Diagram
OLbolt + OLj
L := 0 , .. OLbolt + OLj
200
To better
F ( L) understand this
5 diagram, see
F o( L) 410
the labeled
F crit figure below.
5
Fp 210
0
4 4
0 210 4 10
L
This figure is helpful for understanding the behavior of bolted joints under applied
loads. Bickford explains the concept well on pp.354-360. This sheet allows one to
see how the figure applies to different bolted joint geometries.
F bolt
Fext
F j
Fp
Fb
Fj
L j
OL bo lt
L bo lt
OL j
Tension in a bolt due to differential thermal expansion
6
bolt := 6 10 per deg Carbon
F steel
6
j := 13 10 per deg Aluminu
F m
T := 10 deg F
Kbolt Kj
FT := ( Lj Lbolt ) FT = 386.725 lbf
Kbolt + Kj
For steel / aluminum
combination.
FT Fraction of
= 0.038
Fp preload.
Stress Corrosion Cracking
a := .001 in Crack
depth