Keys and

Flanged Bolt Couplings

Engr. Edwin S. Bautista
University of the East

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 Coupling Assembly
f
key bolt
Pull → extensi

H
B D

hub
shaft
The other half of the coupling is not
flange
shown. The analysis is the same.
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 Nomenclatures

➢ D shaft diameter
➢ d bolt diameter
➢ H hub diameter
➢ B bolt circle diameter
➢ f flange thickness, flange web
➢ b width of the key
➢ t height or thickness of the key
➢ T torque acting on the coupling
➢ Nb Number of bolts

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 Elements of Coupling Assembly

➢ Key

➢ Bolt

➢ Flange and the Hub

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 Design of Flat or Square Keys

➢ Step 1.0 Select whether to use a flat or square

key
Criterion: Shear design stress to the
compressive design stress ratio.
If , use a square key

otherwise use a flat key.

➢ Step 2.0 Determine the key dimensions b & t.
Key dimensions b & t are dependent on the
shaft diameter. Use Table AT 19, p. 594,
Faires
➢ Step 3.0 Determine the length of the key
Key L is determined using key failure analysis
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 Design of Flat or Square Keys

➢ Key in shear

L
area under shear
Fk b
D/2

T= Fk(D/2)
For good design, induced shear stress
should be equal to the design stress.

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 Design of Flat or Square Keys

➢ Key under bearing or compression

L
bearing area
Fk t/2
D/2

T= Fk(D/2)
For good design, induced stress
should be equal to the design stress.

Note: Choose the bigger L.

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 Bolt: Failure Analysis
➢ Bolt under shear

Fb - force acting per bolt = F/Nb

B/2

For good design, induced

stress should be equal to the
design stress

T= F(B/2)
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 Bolt: Failure Analysis
➢ Bearing or crushing of the bolt

Fb - force acting per bolt = F/Nb

B/2 d
bearing A
d f
f

For good design,

T= Fb(B/2)
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 Flange: Failure Analysis
➢ The hub will shear the flange.
area under shear

FH
H/2
▪

Hub T= FH(H/2)

f, flange thickness
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 Flange: Failure Analysis
➢ The hub will shear the flange.

FH
H/2
▪

For good design,

Hub T= FH(H/2)

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 Example 1. A plain flange coupling for a 3 inches shaft
has the following dimensions: bore, 3 in; hub diameter, 5 3/8
in; hub length, 3 3/4in; flange diameter 10 in; flange
thickness, 1 1/16 in; bolt diameter, ¾ in; bolt circle diameter,
8 ¼ in; number of bolts, 6 and key size, ¾ in, square. All
parts are made of SAE 1020 steel annealed. This coupling is
rated at 50 HP and 100 rpm. Find:
a) the bearing, shear, tensile stresses in all parts of the
coupling;
b) What factor of safety does this coupling have?
Neglect the weakening of the shaft due to keyway.
Let the key length be equal to the hub length.

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 Exercises. A plain flange coupling is to connect two
2 ¼ in shafts and with the following dimensions: bore, 2 ¼ in;
hub diameter, 4 3/8 in; hub thickness, 3 5/8in; flange web,
3/4 in; bolt diameter, 5/8 in; bolt circle diameter, 6 1/2 in;
number of bolts, 6 and key size, 9/16 in x 9/16 in, square.
The keyway is ¼ in shorter than the hub thickness. For all
parts, yield point in shear is ½ of the yield point in tension or
compression which is 65ksi. This coupling is rated at 65 HP
and 160 rpm. Find:
a) the bearing, shear, tensile stresses in all parts of the
coupling;
b) What factor of safety does this coupling have?
Neglect the weakening of the shaft due to keyway.
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 Example 2. A cast iron ASTM No. 50 pulley and hub is to
be fastened to a 2 ½ in shaft made of AISI C1030 as rolled
steel and it is to transmit 100 HP at 200 rpm. A flat key of
cold- drawn AISI C1020 steel is to be used. The drive is
expected to be subjected to quite minor vibrations such that
the factor of safety is 1.75. Specify suitable key dimensions.

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 Thank you!

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