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Bolt Torque Calculator

Calculate required bolt torque
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The relation between applied torque and axial force - or load - in a bolt can be calculated in this general
equation as

T = K F d  (1 - l/100)                    (1)

where

T = wrench torque (Nm, lbf ft)

K = constant that depends on the bolt material and size

d = nominal bolt diameter (m, ft)

F = axial bolt force (N, lbf)

l = lubrication factor (%)

Typical values for K with mild-steel bolts in range 1/4" to 1":

normal dry: K = 0.2

nonplated black finish: K = 0.3
zinc-plated: K = 0.2
slightly lubricated: K = 0.18
cadmium-plated: K = 0.16

Note! - be aware that this is a rough calculation where the screw pitch is not included. Typical Metric and
Imperial bolt torques are indicated in the links below:

Metric Bolts - Tightening Torques

US Bolts - Tightening Torques

Manufacturing data should always be checked before use.

In addition the accuracy of a torque wrench is normally no better than +-25%.

 Improvised Torque Wrench

Typical metric and imperial bolyt torques

Bolt Torque Calculator

The calculator below can be used to calculate the torque required to achieve a given axial bolt force or load.
The calculator is generic an can used for imperial and metric units as long as the use of units are consistent.

0.2 K - constant

0.024 d - diameter of bolt (m, ft)

212000 F - axial bolt force or load (N, lbf)

0 torque reduction due to lubrication (%)

Calculate!

Bolt torque (Nm, lbf ft): 1018

Note that standard dry torques are normally calculated to produce a tensile stress - or axial force or clamp
load - in the bolt that equals to 70% of minimum tensile strength or 75% of proof strength.

Metric Bolts - Minimum Ultimate Tensile and Proof Loads

US Bolts - Tensile Strength and Proof Loads

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Example - Required torque for tightening a Imperial bolt

The required bolt clamping force for a joint is 20000 lbs. The torque required for a 3/4" dry steel bolt with 0%
lubrication to achieve this tension can be calculated as

Tdry = (0.2) (20000 lb) (0.75 in) (1/12 ft/in) (1 - (0%) / (100%))

     = 250 (lbf ft)

Example - Required torque for tightening a Metric bolt to proof load

The proof load for a M30 metric bolt grad 8.8 is 337000 N. The torque required to achieve this tension with
a dry bolt with 0% lubrication can be calculated as

Tdry = (0.2) (337000 N) (30 mm) (10-3 m/mm)

     = 2022 (Nm)

Lubricating the bolt with SAE 30 oil reduces the torque required to achieve the same tension with
approximately 40%. The reduced torque can be calculated

TSAE30 = (2022 Nm) (1 - (40%) / (100%))

   = 1213 Nm

Bolt Force vs. Torque

Eq. 1 can be rearranged to express bolt force as

F = T / (K d (1 - l / 100))                      (1a)

Example - Dry vs. Lubricated Bolt

The proof load for a M30 metric bolt grad 8.8 is 337000 N. The torque required to achieve this force with a
dry bolt is calculated to 2022 Nm.

By failure the bolt is lubricated and tightened with the same torque 2022 Nm. The force acting in the
lubricated bolt can be calculated as

Flubricated = (2022 Nm) / (0.2 (0.03 m) (1 - (40%) / (100%))) 

  = 561667 N

This is way above what the bolt can handle and fatal failure is likely.

Bolt Force Calculator

This calculator can be used to calculate the force acting in a bolt.

2022 T - torque (Nm, lbf ft)

0.2 K - constant

0.03 d - diameter bolt (m, ft)

40 torque reduction due to lubrication (%)

calculate!

Bolt Force (N, lb): 561667

Calculate bolt stress

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Related Topics
Fasteners - Bolts, nuts and threaded rods - torque, tension and loads

Related Documents
 Bolt Stretching and Tensile Stress - Tensile stress and Hooke's Law
Improvised Torque Wrench - Improvise a torque wrench with a luggage scale
Metric Bolts - Minimum Ultimate Tensile and Proof Loads - Minimum ultimate tensile and proof
loads for metric bolts with coarse or fine threads
Metric Bolts - Tightening Torques - Typical maximum recommended thightening torques for metric
bolts
Metric Nuts - Proof Loads - Proof loads of metric nuts - coarse and fine threads
Reduced Torque with Lubricated Bolts - Lubrication effect on bolt tension and torque
Threaded Bolt Stress Area - Threaded bolts tensile stress area
Threaded Rods - Loads in Imperial Units - Weight rating of threaded hanger rods
Threaded Rods - Proof Loads in Metric Units - Proof load capacities of metric threaded steel rods
US Bolts - Tensile Strength and Proof Loads - Tensile strength and proof loads SAE bolts
US Bolts - Tightening Torques - Recommended bolt torques
US Hex Bolts - Inches - ANSI/ASME B18.2.1 Dimensions of Hex Bolts - Imperial units
US Hex Bolts - Metric - ANSI/ASME B18.2.3M Dimensions of Hex Bolts - Metric units
Whitworth Bolt Torques - Torque specifications Whitworth bolts

Tag Search
en: bolt torque load calculator tension
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