SURFACE J2315

ISSUED
FEB1998
VEHICLE
400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001
RECOMMENDED Issued 1998-02
PRACTICE
Submitted for recognition as an American National Standard

WHEEL NUT SEAT STRENGTH

1. Scope—The purpose of this test is to evaluate the axial strength of the nut seat of wheels intended for use on
passenger cars, light trucks, and multipurpose vehicles. In addition, a minimum contact area is recommended
to ensure enough strength for the rotational force in tightening a nut against the nut seat. While this test
ensures the minimum strength of the nut seat, the wheel must also have a degree of flexibility. This flexibility,
as well as bolt tension, are important to maintain wheel retention.

2. References

2.1 Applicable Publication—The following publication forms a part of the specification to the extent specified
herein. Unless otherwise indicated the latest revision of SAE publications shall apply.

2.1.1 SAE PUBLICATION—Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

SAE J2316—Wheel Nut Seat System Test

2.2 Related Publications—The following publications are provided for information purposes only and are not a
required part of this document.

2.2.1 SAE PUBLICATIONS—Available from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.

SAE J328—Wheels-Passenger Car and Light Truck Performance Requirements and Test Procedures
SAE J1982—Nomenclature—Wheels for Passenger Car, Light Trucks, and Multipurpose Passenger
Vehicles
SAE J2283—Mechanical and Material Requirements for One Piece-Wheel Nuts

3. Test Procedures

3.1 Wheels for Test—Use only fully processed wheels including all coatings representative of production parts
intended for the vehicle.

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voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”

SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.

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Copyright 1998 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A.
 SAE J2315 Issued FEB1998

3.2 Test Equipment—See Figure 1.

FIGURE 1—TEST EQUIPMENT AND NOMENCLATURE

The test equipment must be capable of supporting the complete wheel mounting area with a rigid flat surface.
The equipment will provide a hardened (Rc 45 min) punch with a contact surface shape representative of the
fastener specified for the wheel. The punch applies a measured axial force (F) (non-rotational) perpendicular
to the supporting surface. Only one nut seat of a wheel is loaded at a time. In addition to the loading
mechanism, devices to measure punch travel (H) are required.

3.3 Deformation Test

3.3.1 TEST METHOD

a. Insert the test wheel in the loading device and align the punch with the nut seat.
b. Apply a load (Fo) to the nut seat and measure the nut seat height (Ho).
c. Apply a load (F) and hold for 15 s.
d. Reduce the load to (Fo) and measure the nut seat height (H1).
e. Repeat steps C and D five times and measure the nut seat height (Hn) at Fo load each time.
f. Repeat steps A through E on each nut seat of the wheel.

The initial force (Fo) and final force (F) for some fastener sizes are shown in Table 1. For sizes not shown or
for evaluation of new finishes, materials, or systems, the fastener shall be tightened using the procedure
defined in SAE J2316 and the maximum force value obtained for five sample initial tightenings to the
minimum ultimate torque (Ref. Table 1 SAE J2316) should be used as F and 0.6 times F should be used for
Fo. The values for the test should be for the largest fastener used with the wheel.

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 SAE J2315 Issued FEB1998

TABLE 1—DEFORMANCE TEST FORCE

Fastener
Fastener Size Fo(1) (kN) F(2)(kN) Torque Value (Nm)

M10 x 1.25 9.8 16.4 60

M12 x 1.25 18.7 31.1 110
M12 x 1.5
1/2—20
M14 x 1.5 18.7 31.1 190
9/16—18
1. Fo is 0.6 times the maximum force at recommended torque.
2. F is the maximum load obtained at the torque value.

3.3.2 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

a. The nut seat height change (Ho-H1) after the first cycle shall not exceed 0.6 mm.
b. The fifth nut seat height change (Ho-H5) shall not exceed 0.80 mm.

3.4 Yield Strength Test

3.4.1 TEST METHOD

a. Insert a new test wheel on the loading device and align the punch with the nut seat.
b. Apply the load to the individual nut seat until the complete collapse or cracking.
c. Record the maximum load prior to collapse or cracking.
d. Repeat test on all nut seat positions, but tests are not to be performed on adjacent nut seats.

Two or more new wheels will be required to completely evaluate all nut seat positions.

3.4.2 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS—The maximum load prior to collapse or cracking shall exceed the values in
Table 2 for the largest fastener used with the wheel. For sizes not shown, the system torque/tension test
should be performed and the initial tension value for the torques listed in Table 3 should be used.

TABLE 2—YIELD LOAD CAPABILITY

Fastener Size Yield Load (kN)
M12 x 1.25 35
M12 x 1.5
1/2—20
M14 x 1.5 44
9/16-18

TABLE 3—TORQUE VALUES

Fastener Size Maximum Torque (Nm)
M10x1.25 60
M12 x 1.25 140
M12 x 1.5
1/2—20
M14 x 1.5 190
9/16—18

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 SAE J2315 Issued FEB1998

3.5 Bearing Surface Recommendation—The repeatability of the yield strength test and deformation test is best
when the following criteria is met or exceeded. This recommendation uses the applied stresses to predict
yielding at a critical value given by the maximum shear stress (Tresca) criterion. At the critical value, the sum
of the applied stresses from the stud tension and nut torque equals the yield point of the nut seat material. The
applied stresses are a conservative approximation for the principal stresses. It is important to note that stud
tension creates a compressive stress on the nut seat. See Figure 2.

FIGURE 2—NUT SEAT BEARING SURFACE AND MEAN RADIUS

Bs = [ Ts + ( Tq ⁄ R ) ] ⁄ Y (Eq. 1)

Bs = Bearing surface area

Ts = Bolt Tension
Tq = Applied torque
R = Mean radius of nut seat
Y = Yield strength of the wheel material

Tables 4 and 5 give example values of Bs for typical assumed properties. Use Equation 1 to calculate bearing
surface areas for wheels made from materials with other properties.

TABLE 4—CALCULATED STEEL WHEEL MINIMUM BEARING SURFACE

USING STRESS DIFFERENTIALS (mm2)
Applied Applied Applied Applied Applied Applied Applied Applied
Torques Torques Torques Torques Torques Torques Torques Torques
N·m N·m N·m N·m N·m N·m N·m N·m
Stud Tension—N 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160
12 000 92.7 97.5 102.3 107.0 111.8 116.6 121.3 126.1
16 000 109.3 114.1 118.9 123.6 128.4 133.2 137.9 142.7
20 000 125.9 130.7 135.5 140.2 145.0 149.8 154.5 159.3
24 000 142.5 147.3 152.0 156.8 161.6 166.4 171.1 175.9
28 000 159.1 163.9 168.6 173.4 178.2 183.0 187.7 192.5

This calculation assumes a min yield of 241 MPa (35 ksi) and a mean nut seat diameter of 17.4 mm (0.69 in) to
represent typical low-carbon steels.

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 SAE J2315 Issued FEB1998

TABLE 5—CALCULATED ALUMINUM WHEEL MINIMUM BEARING SURFACE

USING STRESS DIFFERENTIALS (mm2)
Applied Applied Applied Applied Applied Applied Applied Applied
Torques Torques Torques Torques Torques Torques Torques Torques
Nm Nm Nm Nm Nm Nm Nm Nm
Stud Tension—N 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160
12 000 185.0 194.1 203.2 212.3 221.4 230.5 239.6 248.7
16 000 219.3 228.4 237.5 246.6 255.7 264.8 273.9 283.1
20 000 253.6 262.7 271.9 281.0 290.1 299.2 308.3 317.4
24 000 288.0 297.1 306.2 315.3 324.4 333.5 342.6 351.7
28 000 322.3 331.4 340.5 349.6 358.7 367.8 377.0 386.1

This calculation assumes a min yield of 116.5 MPa (16.9 ksi) and a mean nut seat diameter of 18.85 mm
(0.74 in ) to represent typical aluminum wheels.

PREPARED BY THE SAE NUT SEAT TEST TASK FORCE

OF THE SAE WHEEL STANDARDS COMMITTEE

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 SAE J2315 Issued FEB1998

Rationale—The nut seat task group of the SAE Wheel Committee developed this procedure. The test values
and procedure were developed by testing actual wheels by various manufacturers and of various
materials to ensure that the procedure provided a method to evaluate the nut seat axial strength. The
tests used for the standard’s development were the torque tension tests and field experience with higher
cornering applications that could cause nut seat collapse or cracking.

The procedure is for the evaluation of the nut seat for wheels made of aluminum or steel. The yield
characteristics that are described in 3.4 do apply differently to cast wheels since the test is intended to
deform the fabricated nut seat. A cast structure may crack instead of deform and this is covered in the
performance requirements. The Deformation test (3.3) will measure nut seat deformation and emboss
collapse or cracking (elastic and plastic deformation).

This test procedure evaluates the axial strength of the nut seat. The loading due to turning of the nut
against the nut seat is not accounted for except in the referenced tables on nut seat bearing area. The
stress differential method of evaluation accounted for this loading to obtain the listed values.

The nut seat should have the axial strength as defined in this procedure. The nut seat should have
sufficient flexibility to maintain torque in service and meet fatigue requirements. The fatigue tests in SAE
J328 can be used for this evaluation. The clamp force evaluation is defined under the systems test in
SAE J2316.

Relationship of SAE Standard to ISO Standard—Not applicable.

Application—The purpose of this test is to evaluate the axial strength of the nut seat of wheels intended for
use on passenger cars, light trucks, and multipurpose vehicles. In addition, a minimum contact area is
recommended to ensure enough strength for the rotational force in tightening a nut against the nut seat.
While this test ensures the minimum strength of the nut seat, the wheel must also have a degree of
flexibility. This flexibility, as well as bolt tension, are important to maintain wheel retention.

Reference Section

SAE J328 —Wheels-Passenger Car and Light Truck Performance Requirements and Test Procedures

SAE J1982—Nomenclature—Wheels for Passenger Car, Light Trucks, and Multipurpose Passenger
Vehicles

SAE J2283—Mechanical and Material Requirements for One-Piece Wheel Nuts

SAE J2316—Wheel Nut Seat System Test

Developed by the SAE Nut Seat Test Task Force

Sponsored by the SAE Wheel Standards Committee