Theory & worked calculations

Bolted connections, fasteners and other non-

permanent joints

Lecturer: Dr OT Laseinde
Designation of screw threads
Table 5: Design dimensions of screw threads, bolts and nuts according
to IS : 4218 (Part III) 1976 (Reaffirmed 1996)
Cont’d
Cont’d
Stresses in fastenings
Table 6: Three (3) different types of Square thread
forms
Stresses in fastenings
For detailed theory associated with stresses in fastening,
please refer to Screw fastening textbook excerpt by Khurmi
and Gupta uploaded on blackboard
MDSMIA2 unit 5 Reference textbooks
For further calculation examples, the other textbooks are
useful
Categories of stresses in screwed fastenings
1. Internal stresses due to screwing up forces,
2. Stresses due to external forces, and
3. Stress due to combination of stresses at (1) and (2).
Stresses in fastenings
1. Internal stresses due to screwing up forces

A. Tensile stress due to stretching of the bolt

B. Torsional shear stress caused by the frictional resistance of the
threads during its tightening.
C. Shear stress across the threads.
D. Compression or crushing stress on threads
E. Bending stress if the surfaces under the head or nut are not
perfectly parallel to the bolt axis.

For detailed explanation, you must refer to pg 389-390

in the textbook excerpt, Khurmi & Gupta
Stresses in fastenings
A. Tensile stress due to stretching of the bolt: The bolts, The
initial tension in a bolt, based on experiments, may be found by the
relation Pi = 2840 d (Newton) where Pi = Initial tension in a bolt,
and d = Nominal diameter of bolt, in mm.
The above relation is used for making a joint fluid tight like steam
engine cylinder cover joints etc. When the joint is not required as tight
as fluid-tight joint, then the initial tension in a bolt may be reduced to
half of the above value. In such cases Pi = 1420 d (Newton)
The small diameter bolts may fail during tightening, therefore bolts of
smaller diameter (less than M 16 or M 18) are not permitted in making
fluid tight joints.
Stresses in fastenings
If the bolt is not initially stressed, then the maximum safe axial load
which may be applied to it, is given by:
P = Permissible stress × Cross-sectional area at bottom of the thread
(i.e. stress area), and the stress area may be obtained from Table 5 or
it may be found by using the relation stress area = where d p is the

pitch diameter and dc the core or minor diameter.

Stresses in fastenings
B. Torsional shear stress caused by the frictional resistance of
the threads during its tightening:
and r= dc /2 , J = ,
therefore Ꞇ = = , Where Ꞇ = Torsional shear stress, T = Torque
applied, J = Area Inertia for circular surface which is standard and d c =
Minor or core diameter of the thread.
Stresses in fastenings

C. Shear stress across the threads:

The average thread shearing stress for the screw (s) is obtained by using

the relation: s = where b = width of the thread section at the root.

The average thread shearing stress for the nut is:

n = where d represents the major diameter

Stresses in fastenings

D. Compression or crushing stress on threads:

The compression or crushing stress between the threads (σc) may
be obtained by using the relation:
σc = where d = major diameter, minor diameter and n=
number of threads in engagement
Stresses in fastenings
E. Bending stress if the surfaces under the head or nut are
not perfectly parallel to the bolt axis:
When the outside surfaces of the parts to be connected are not
parallel to each other, then the bolt will be subjected to bending
action. The bending stress (σb) induced in the shank of the bolt is

given by σb =
where x = Difference in height between the extreme corners of the
nut or head; l = Length of the shank of the bolt, and
E = Young’s modulus for the material of the bolt.
Example 1

Determine the safe tensile load for a bolt of M 30, assuming a safe
tensile stress of 42 MPa.

From the question, d = 30mm, σt =42 Mpa = 42 N/mm2 . Referring

to table 5, the cross sectional area (stress area) at the bottom of
the M30 thread is 561 mm2

Safe tensile load = Stress area × σt = 561 × 42 = 23 562 N =

23.562 kN
Example 1

Determine the safe tensile load for a bolt of M 30, assuming a safe
tensile stress of 42 MPa.

From the question, d = 30mm, σt =42 Mpa = 42 N/mm2 . Referring

to table 5, the cross sectional area (stress area) at the bottom of
the M30 thread is 561 mm2

Safe tensile load = Stress area × σt = 561 × 42 = 23 562 N =

23.562 kN
Example 2
Find the stress that is set up in a bolt by the initial tightening if two
machine parts are fastened together tightly by means of a 24 mm tap
bolt. Neglect the loads tending to separate these machine parts.

Since the pitch was not specified in the question, coarse series will be
applied.
Also Note: If the external load is taken up by a number of bolts, then P=
σt X n where n represents number of bolts.
Also note: In case the standard table is not available, then for coarse
threads, dc = 0.84 d, where d is the nominal diameter of bolt.

From Table 5, we find that the core diameter of the thread corresponding
to M 24 is dc = 20.32 mm.
Let σt = Stress set up in the bolt. We know initial tension in the bolt,
P=2840 d = 2840 × 24 = 68 160N
We also know that initial tension in the bolt (P), 68 160 = σ t
From above formula, σt = 68160/324 = 210 N/mm2 or 210 MPa
Stresses in fastenings
Practical joints normally fall between the two extremes of
hard and soft joints. The clamped components of a typical
hard joint have a stiffness of approximately three times that
of the bolt. An externally applied load will be shared by the
bolt and the clamped components according to the relative
stiffness's, which can be modelled by

where Fb is final force in the bolt (N); Fi initial clamping

load (N); kb stiffness of the bolt (N/m); kc stiffness of the
clamped components (N/m); Fe externally applied load (N);
Fc final force on the clamped components (N).
Bolt and nuts reference formulas

Tensile strength is better defined using an area based

on an average of the minor and pitch diameters.

For UNS threads,

For ISO threads

and

The stress in a threaded rod due to a tensile load is

Bolt and nuts

The recommended preload for reusable

connections can be determined by

and for permanent joints by

At is the tensile stress area of the bolt (m2); p, bolt proof strength in (N/m2).

If detailed information concerning the proof strength is unavailable then it can

be approximated by

Once the preload has been determined the torque required to tighten the bolt
can be estimated from

where T is wrench torque (N m); K, constant; Fi, preload (N); d, nominal bolt
diameter (m). The value of K depends on the bolt material and size.
Common types of screw fastenings

The diameter of the set screw (d) may be obtained from the
following expression:
d = 0.125 D + 8 mm
where D is the diameter of the shaft (in mm) on which the set screw
is pressed.
The tangential force (in newton's) at the surface of the shaft is given
by
F = 6.6 (d )2.3

∴Torque transmitted by a set screw,

T = F X N-m
and power transmitted (in watts), P = , where N is the speed in
r.p.m.
Example 3
An M10 bolt has been selected for a re-useable application. The
proof stress of the low carbon steel bolt material is 310MPa.
Determine the recommended preload on the bolt and the torque
setting.

Solution
From Table, the pitch for a coarse series M10 bolt is 1.5mm.
dp = 10 - 0.649519 X 1.5 = 9.026 mm
dr = 10 - 1.226869 X 1.5 = 8.160 mm
At = = 57.99 mm2
For a reusable connection, the recommended preload is
Fi = 0.75 At
From table 5, k = 0.2.
The torque required to tighten the bolt is given by T = kFid = 0.2 X
13.48 X 0.01 = 26.96 Nm
Example 4
A set of six M8 bolts is used to provide a clamping force of 20 kN
between two components in a machine. If the joint is subjected to
an additional load of 18 kN after the initial preload of 8.5 kN per
bolt has been applied, determine the stress in the bolts. The
stiffness of the clamped components can be assumed to be three
times that of the bolt material. The proof stress of the low carbon
steel bolt material is 310MPa.
Solution
According to the question, Kc = 3Kb
Fb = Fi = Fi = FiFe

=9250 N

Fc = Fi = Fi= FiFe

=6250 N
As Fc is greater than zero, the joint remains tight. The tensile stress
area for the M8 bolt can be determined from

dp = 8 - 0.649519 X 1.25 = 7.188 mm

dr = 8 - 1.226869 X 1.25 = 6.466 mm
At = = 36.61 mm2 = 36.61 X (10-3 )2 m

The stress in each bolt is given by 𝜎 = = 9250/(36.61x10-6) =

(252x106)PA. This is equivalent to 82 per cent of the proof

stress of 310 MPA. The bolts are therefore safe. (Always conclude
by stating your final findings or inference)