trallee,<br>
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There is a publication that answers your question. The book is "Introduction to the Design and Behavior of Bolted Joints" by Bickford. It is published by Dekker. You can also find it through ASME. They use Bickford's book in their Bolted Joint training coures. I do not know why he called it an introduction, it is a really good book.<br>
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Typically, plate materials (carbon steels) have a lower yield than most bolt materials you would use. Bolts are similar to springs in that the stress in a drawn up bolt will not increase until the joint parts. Bickford does an excellent job of explaining this.<br>
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Bickford has equations for calculating the depth of tapped holes for an equal strength between the bolt and the tapped hole. Three relations are offered. One for when the hole material has a higher yield or ultimate strenght than the bolt material, one for the opposite circumstance, and one for when they are equal.<br>
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If you can not get the book quickly enough for your needs, email me at <A HREF="mailto

worthi@astro.as.utexas.edu">pworthi@astro.as.utexas.edu</A>,and I will email you the equations. Let me know if you can handle MathCAD 2000 format. If not, I will just put it in the body of the reply. I am at the house and do not have the book with me.<br>
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V/R<br>
<br>
Tom <br>
<p>Tom Worthington<br><a href=mailto

worthi@astro.as.utexas.edu>pworthi@astro.as.utexas.edu</a><br><a href= > </a><br>