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Badri FKM UTM

BOLT Analysis and Selection

(pg 396)

This note is only a guideline for using the text book. Detailed explaination and tables
are found in Shigley Mechanical Engineering Design text book.

Objective
To analyze loads and stresses acting on a threaded fastener and
consequently select appropriate size of the fastener

Thread Definitions -The terminology of screw threads

dr

(pitch) the distance between adjacent thread forms measured parallel to the
thread axis. The pitch in U.S. units is the reciprocal of the number of thread
forms per inch N.
The major diameter (most important reference to bolt size [eg major
diameter 10mm = M10] )
The minor (smallest) diameter (used in shear analysis)

At

The tensile-stress area of the threaded part of the screw or bolt sustaining

the load equal in strength to an unthreaded rod. (used in tensile stress

analysis of bolts)
(lead) - distance the nut moves parallel to the screw axis when the nut is
given one turn. For a single thread, the lead is the same as the pitch. For
double thread: l = 2p and triple thread: l = 3p

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Thread Standards
M10 x 1.5

Metric threads are specified by writing the diameter and pitch in

millimeters. This thread have a nominal major diameter of 10 mm
and a pitch of 1.5 mm. (Table 8-1).

0.625"-18 UNRF

Unified threads are specified by stating the nominal major

diameter, the number of threads per inch, and the thread series.
(Table 8-2).

Table 8-1 (Sample) pg 398

Bolt Strength
In the specification standards for bolts, the bolt size is specified by stating the proof
strength against the minimum tensile stress or von-mises stress.
proof load

the maximum load (force) that a bolt can withstand without

acquiring a permanent set.

proof strength

the quotient of the proof load and the tensile-stress area.

Table 8-11 (Sample) pg 420

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FORCE AND STRESS ANALYSIS

The bolts are located at various location in the joint. In this analysis, the original loads
applied at all the bolts are replaced by an equal load applied at the centroid plus a torque
that is equal to the product of force and the distance it was moved. Based on this basic
principle, centroid location must be calculated before force analysis can proceed.

Calculation of CG (centroid) for a group of Bolts (or screw)

A 2

x=

y=

A1 x1 + A2 x2 + A3 x3 + .... + An xn
A1 + A2 + A3 + ... + An

A1 y1 + A2 y2 + A3 y3 + .... + An yn

A 3

y
_
x
A 1

A i

_
y

A 4
A 5

A1 + A2 + A3 + ... + An

x
where A is the cross-sectional area of the bolts - assuming all bolts are of the
same size.

Loading of Bolts
There are 4 main types of loads acting on bolts - 2 primary and 2 secondary.
Primary Load:
axial load per bolt, P' (or axial stress per bolt, ' )
1.
2.
shear load per bolt, V' (or shear stress per bolt ' )
Secondary load:
bending load per bolt, P" (or bending stress per bolt, '' )
1.
2.
twisting load per bolt, V" (or torsional stress per bolt '' )

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Pure Axial Load (P)

Tensile load per bolt :

Fp =

P
n

( NB : this is primary load. )

Tensile stress per bolt :
n At -

p =

P
Atotal

P
n At

number of bolts
tensile stress area (see Table 8-1)

Pure Shear Load, V

Shear load per bolt :

Shear stress per bolt :

p =

V
n As

V
n Ar

p =

V
n
V
Atotal

if shear occurs at the shank part, then use

bolt sectional-area as
As =

p =

Sp =

d
4

where d - major diameter

if shear occurs at threaded part, then use

bolt sectional-area as Ar - minor diameter
area (refer to Table 8-1)

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Bending Load

Moment M is force exerted on bolts by plate

If force per unit distance

Uf =

M = P L

M
n

li

i=1

Then force at bolt n :

Fn = Uf ln

Secondary tensile stress :

s =

Fn
At

At - tensile stress area (see Table 8-1)

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Torsional Load, T

V1
V2

y
_
x

V3

V5

_
y

V4

x
Twisting loads act at centroid of all bolts :
where r - distance of bolt to centroid

T = V1 r1 + V2 r2 + ..... + Vn rn
If shear force per unit distance

U=

T
n

ri

i=1

Then shear force at bolt n :

Secondary shear stress :

Vn = U r n

s =

Vn

Area could be either area AsorAr

(If Ar - see Table 8-1)

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Procedure for analysing bolt

1. Determine the kind of loads acting on the structure
Primary loads : Axial load, P and/or Shear load, V
Secondary loads: Bending load, M and/or Twisting load, T
2. Draw the freebody diagram and find the location of the centroid or the pivot.
3. Transfer all loads to the centroid/pivot.
4. Use suitable analysis to find the most critical load.
5. If both primary and secondary loads are shear, use summation of vector to find
resultant load.
6. If combined shear and tensile load, then calculate Von-Mises stress.
7. If both primary and secondary loads are tensile, add both load together.
8. Compare final stress with strength of bolt.
a.
b.

Compare Von-mises stress (') against proof strength (SP)

Compare shear stresses against shear yield strength
Sy
(MSS)
Ssy =
2

Question 1
A bracket (size in mm) is supported by bolts as shown in diagram below. A load
of F = 16 kN is applied. Using bolts of Metric Class 5.8 , determine the suitable
bolt size for the design if = 3.0 ; Length of shank 4 mm.

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Question 2
A force F acts on a mounting bracket fixed to a structure by 3 bolts as shown in
diagram below. Bolt used is 1/2"-13 UNC of ASTM grade A307.
1. Draw the freebody diagram showing all forces acting on the bolts
2. If the force F is 2 kN, determine the status of the connection if 3.0.
3. If the bolt is M12 x 1.75 of Metric Class 5.8, find the safety factor.
4. Determine the maximum load F that the bolts can carry if the bolt used are 3/4"-10
UNC of ASTM grade A490. Use 2.5.
(Hint: Convert metric dimensions to imperial (3 decimal points) .

Question 3
A bracket holding a cable of tension F is shown in diagram below. It is fixed to the
floor by 4 bolts of ASTM type 1 grade A325.
1. Determine F , if bolt size is 3/4"-10 UNC. and given = 3
2. If tension F = 50 kN and the bolts size is 1/2"-13 UNC., determine the status of the
connection if recommended safety factor is 2.50

Connections Examples Test