Bolted Connections

[paulmac2004]

I am a mechanical design engineer having recently started a new job where i need to calculate bolted connections are safe, we have an FEA package (CATIA GAS) but it will not really give much information about pull out forces, shear etc.

Its 20 years since i have done any bolt calculations and i would appreciate it if anyone could point me to a website where i can find information on how to determine basic bolt strength calcs.

 

[Qshake]

What kind of industry or you in?

As a structural engineer who deals with bolted connections on a regular basis (any where from two to two hundred bolts in a connection) I will note that my favorite references are:


AISC 9th Edition Steel Construction Manual
Design of Steel Structures, Gaylord and Gaylord
Design and Behavior of Steel Structures Salmon and Johnson
Structural Steel Designer's Handbook, Merritt and Brockenbrough
Handbook of Structural Steel Connections Design and Details - Tamboli
Guide to Design Criteria for Bolted and Riveted joints - Kulak et al.

I've never used a FE program to model/design whole connections although I've modeled bolts in connections for constraint conditions and loading.

Good Luck.

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

 

[desertfox]

Hi paulmac2004


Try these web sites

http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Screws/Preloading.html

http://www.boltscience.com/pages/basics1.htm

regards desertfox

 

[MToft]

Hi,

Depending on your location and industry, a German university (Paderborn?) produces Hexagon software which can help design some bolted joints.

For simpler hand calculation some application standards like BS5500 on pressure vessels contain some quite extensive bolt calculation sections which might help.

Good luck!

Regards,
MToft