• Square-threaded screws are

frequently part of jacks,

presses, and other mechanisms.
Consider the square-threaded jack, under the action of the axial load W and a moment M applied
• Their analysis is similar to the
about the axis of the screw. The screw has a lead L (advancement per revolution) and a mean
analysis of a block sliding
radius r.
If M is just sufficient to turn the screw, the thread of the screw will slide along an inclined plane.
around and up on the fixed thread of the frame.

Force R exerted
angle of friction by the thread of
The moment of R about the vertical axis of the screw is: the jack frame
on a small
Total moment due to all reactions on the threads: representative
portion of the
screw thread

Thus, the moment equilibrium equation for the screw becomes

Equilibrium of forces in the axial direction further requires that:

Combining the expressions for M and W gives: To determine the helix angle a, unwrap the thread of
the screw for one complete turn
 We may use the unwrapped thread of the screw as an alternative model to simulate the action of the entire screw

The equivalent force required to push the

movable thread up the fixed incline is:

Triangle of force vectors gives:

Conditions for Unwinding:

If the moment M is removed, the friction
force changes direction so that ϕ is
measured to the other side of the normal to
the thread.

The screw will remain in place and be self-locking provided α < ϕ.

On the verge of unwinding if α = ϕ.

To lower the load by unwinding the screw, we must reverse the

direction of M as long as α < ϕ.

If α > ϕ, the screw will unwind by itself, the moment required to prevent
unwinding is:
M = Wr tan (θ+ϕ) If ϕs is smaller than θ, the screw will
self-locking; it will remain in place unwind under the load; it is then
under the load. To lower the load, we necessary to apply the force to
must then apply the force Q maintain equilibrium.
M = Wr tan (ϕ- θ)
M = Wr tan (θ-ϕ)
• The lead of a screw should not be confused with its pitch.
• The lead is defined as the distance through which the screw advances in one turn; the pitch is the distance measured between two
consecutive threads.
• Lead and pitch are equal in the case of single-threaded screws, but they are different in the case of multiple-threaded screws, i.e.,
screws having several independent threads.
• It is easily verified that for double-threaded screws the lead is twice as large as the pitch; for triple-threaded screws, it is three times
as large as the pitch; etc.
 A clamp is used to hold two pieces of wood together as shown. The clamp has a double square thread with a mean diameter
of 10 mm and a pitch of 2 mm. The coefficient of friction between threads is μs = 0.30. If a maximum couple of 40 N·m is
applied in tightening the clamp, determine (a) the force exerted on the pieces of wood, (b) the couple required to loosen the
clamp.

Hint: If you represent the screw by a block, as in the analysis of this section, you can determine the incline of the screw from
the geometry given in the problem, and you can find the force applied to the block by setting the moment of that force equal
to the applied couple.
A clamp is used to hold two pieces of wood together as shown. The clamp has a double square thread with a mean diameter
of 10 mm and a pitch of 2 mm. The coefficient of friction between threads is μs = 0.30. If a maximum couple of 40 N·m is
applied in tightening the clamp, determine (a) the force exerted on the pieces of wood, (b) the couple required to loosen the
clamp.
(a) Force Exerted by Clamp.
The mean radius of the screw is r = 5 mm. Because the screw is double-threaded, the
lead L is equal to twice the pitch: L = 2(2 mm) = 4 mm. Obtain the lead angle θ and the
friction angle ϕs from

Find the force Q that should be applied to the block representing the screw by setting its
moment Q×r about the axis of the screw equal to the applied couple.
A clamp is used to hold two pieces of wood together as shown. The clamp has a double square thread with a mean diameter
of 10 mm and a pitch of 2 mm. The coefficient of friction between threads is μs = 0.30. If a maximum couple of 40 N·m is
applied in tightening the clamp, determine (a) the force exerted on the pieces of wood, (b) the couple required to loosen the
clamp.
(b) Couple Required to Loosen Clamp.
You can obtain the force Q required to loosen the clamp and the corresponding couple
from the free-body diagram and force triangle shown
1. A screw jack has mean diameter of 50 mm and pitch 10 mm. If the coefficient of friction between its
screw and nut is 0.15, find the effort required at the end of 700 mm long handle to raise a load of 10 kN.
[Ans: 77 N]
2. A screw press is used to compress books. The thread is a double thread (square head) with a pitch of 4 mm
and a mean radius of 25 mm. The coefficient of the friction (μ) for the contact surface of the thread is 0.3.
Find the torque for a pressure of 500 N. [Ans: 4453 N-mm]
3. A compressive force of 600 N is to be applied to the two boards in the grip of the C-clamp. The threaded
screw has a mean diameter of 10 mm and advances 2.5 mm per turn. The coefficient of static friction is
0.20. Determine the force F which must be applied normal to the handle at C in order to (a) tighten and (b)
loosen the clamp. Neglect friction at point A. [Ans: (a) F = 8.52 N, (b) F = 3.56 N]