Bolted Joint
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Bolted Joint Design
Introduction
A most important factor is machine design, and structural design is the rigid fastening together of different components..This should include the
following considerations..
● Assembly
● Accuracy of positioning
● Ability to Hold components rigidly together against all forces
● Requirement to separate components
● Retention of fastening over time
There are many methods of fastening items together including
● Bolting
● Rivetting
● Pins
● Keys
● Welding/Soldering/Brazing
● Bonding
● Velcro
● Magnetism
These notes relate primarily to the bolted joint. The bolted joint is a very popular method of fastening components together. The prime reason for
selecting bolts as opposed to welding, or rivets is that the connection can be easily released allowing disassembly, maintenance and/or inspection..
The bolts /screws are generally used in groups to fasten plates together. A bolt is a screwed fastener with a head, designed to be used with a nut.
A screw is a fastener designed to be used with a formed female thread in one of the components being attached.
These notes generally relate to bolts and nuts and hex headed screws..
Bolt loading
A bolt can be loaded in one of three ways
● Tension
● Shear
● Combined Shear and Tension
Note: Conditions where bending loads are imposed on the bolt e.g. non-parallel bolting surfaces, should be avoided.
A bolt is primarily designed to withstand tensile loading while clamping components together. Ideally the bolt should only be loaded in tension. Any
forces tending to slide the clamped components laterally should be withstood by separate means..
Holes for bolts are generally clearance holes and the best design of bolt is one with a reduced shank diameter (waisted shanks). Joints in shear
depending on the bolts to withstand the shear load are not really rigid. Significant relative sideways movement must take place before the bolt
shank can take any shear load (hole clearance). It is also likely that in the case of components attached by a number of bolts that one bolt would be
loaded first and this bolt would have to yield before the other bolts take their share of the shear load....
Bolts taking significant tensile and shear load need to be engineered to withstand the combined stress..
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In structural engineering the codes identify the use of High Strength Friction Grip Bolts (Ref BS 4604 Pts 1-2:1970). The bolts are tightened to a
specified minimum shank tension so that transverse loads are transferred across the joint by friction between the plates rather than by shear across
the bolt shank.
In mechanical engineering / machine engineering, items are often accurately located using dowels /locating pins. When installed these dowels /
locating pins should be engineered to withstand any traverse loads. A recent innovation is to provide dowel bushings. These are used in
conjunction with bolts which pass through the inside of the bushing after it has been installed. Separate holes for locating pins are eliminated.
The hardened bushings absorb shear loads, isolating the bolts from these forces.
If the choice is made that bolts/screws are to take shear load the joint should be arranged that the threaded portion of the bolt/screw shank is not
taking the shear.
The notes on
this page relate
to the
mechanical
engineering
industry.. In the
aerospace
industry joints
are often
designed to
specifically load
the bolts in
shear. The
screws and
bolts used are
high
specification
close
toleranced
items and the
holes are also
machined to
close
tolerances. The
bolted lap joints
are generally
used for critical
assemblies and
joints designed
with bolts
loaded in
tension are
avoided.????
Strength of Bolts in Shear
Important Note: The calculations below are based on the unrealistic assumption that there is no friction forces between the plates which are
clamped by the bolts. The calculations are therefoe conservative (safe)..
Strength of Bolts withstanding direct shear loading
For bolts joints loaded in shear - three stress areas result-
● The bolts are loaded in shear..Depending on the joint design the bolt can be in single or double shear...
● The bolt interface with the hole is compressively loaded. ( Crushing )
● If the hole is near to the edge of the plate the plate is subject to shear loading
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Single Shear..
Shear Stress = 4 . F / π. d 2 ......Compressive Stress = F / (d . t)......Plate Shear Stress = F / (2.c.t)
Double Shear ..
Shear Stress = 2 . F / π. d 2 ......Compressive Stress = F / (d . t)......Plate Shear Stress = F / (2.c.t)
The stresses are adjusted based on the number of bolts / screws used for the joint..
Strength of bolts withstanding torsion generated shear loading
Consider a bracket taking an offset load F (N) at a radius R (m). The bracket is secure using a number of bolts each with a Area A(m2 ). The bolts
are located around a centroid position each with a radius from the centroid of rn(m) and a horizontal/vertical position relative to the centroid of hn /vn
(m) . ( bolt is designated by the subscript "n". )
Location of Centroid... The location of the centroid of the bolts can often be determined by inspection as in figure
above. If the bolts are not arranged around a convenient centre then the centroid is determined by ..
x position = sum of the moments of area of all the holes about a fixed horizontal position divided by the total hole
area
y position = sum of the moments of area of all the holes about a fixed vertical position divided by the total hole area
The offset load is equivalent to a vertical force (F) + moment (F. R) at the centroid of the bolts...
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Each bolt is withstands a vertical shear force Fnv = F / No of Bolts.
Each bolt also withstands a shear load Fnm = F.R. rn / (r12 + r22...rn2)
The total horizontal force on each bolt Fth= Fnm . vn / Sqrt(hn2 + vn2 )
The total vertical force on each bolt Ftv= Fnv + Fnm . hn / Sqrt(hn2 + vn2 )
The total shear load on each bolt Ft= Sqrt (Fth2 + Ftv2)
The resulting bolt shear stress τt = Ft /A
The shear stress in each bolt is calculated to ensure the design is safe..
Strength of bolt joints withstanding bending forces
Each Bolt withstands a shear Force Fns = Fv / (Number of bolts)
The resulting shear bolt stress τn = Fns /A
Each bolt withstands a tensile force of Fnt = ( Fv. Rv + Fh. Rh) . Vn / (V12 + V22....Vn2 )
The resulting tensile bolt stress σn = Fnt /A
Maximum principals stresses in the bolt resulting from combined loading
Assuming all stresses developed only as a result of bracket loading i.e zero preload and zero residual bolt torque...
Maximum principal tensile stress in the bolt
Maximum principal compressive stress in the bolt
Maximum shear stress in the bolt
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Failure criteria: Refer to page Failure Modes
In order to estimate the design factors of safety it is necessary to consider the failure modes. The preferred failure criteria for ductile metals is the
"Shear Strain Energy Theory" (Von Mises-Hencky theory). For a stress regime associated with a bolt i.e pure tensile stress σx combined with shear
stress τxy. The Factor of safety relative to the material tensile strength Sy..is calculated as follows
Factor of Safety = Sy / ( sx2 + 3 .txy2 ) 1/2
Preloaded Bolts : Refer to page Preloading
These stresses do not include for the stresses developed in preloading the bolts. The residual shear stress from bolt tightening should also
considered (added). The actual tensile preload force should be considered following the principles identified on the pages addressing this topic
Relevant Links
1. Overview of Bolted Joint Design..Some Useful notes for Textron Fasteners
2. Spirol..Supplier of Dowel Bushings
3. MITCALC..Provides a good Excel based bolt calculator at reasonable cost
4. SEED Bold Design Guide..And excellent guide to the design of bolted joints
This Page is being developed
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Last Updated 20/04/2006
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