Threaded Fasteners

In threaded joints two or more machine members are joined together with the help of
threaded fastening e.g. a nut and bolt. These are non-permanent type joints i.e. members can
be disassembled without damaging the component parts for the purpose of maintenance,
checking and replacement. Threads are formed by cutting a helical groove on the surface of a
cylindrical rod or cylindrical hole. Threaded fasteners are standardized and a wide variety is
available for different operating conditions and applications. These are easy to manufacture
and a high accuracy can be maintained. Holes are required in the machine parts to be
assembled by threaded joints, which lead to stress concentration. Another disadvantage is
that, threaded joints tend to loosen when subjected to vibrations.

Major diameter: It is the largest diameter of an external or internal screw thread. The screw
is specified by this diameter. It is also known as outside or nominal diameter.
Minor diameter: It is the smallest diameter of an external or internal screw thread. It is also
known as core or root diameter.
Pitch diameter: It is the diameter of an imaginary cylinder, on a cylindrical screw thread, the
surface of which would pass through the thread at such points as to make equal the width of
the thread and the width of the spaces between the threads. It is also called an effective
diameter. In a nut and bolt assembly, it is the diameter at which the ridges on the bolt are in
complete touch with the ridges of the corresponding nut.
Pitch: It is the distance from a point on one thread to the corresponding point on the next.
This is measured in an axial direction between corresponding points in the same axial plane.
Mathematically, Pitch = 1/ No. of threads per unit length of screw
Lead: It is the distance between two corresponding points on the same helix. It may also be
defined as the distance which a screw thread advances axially in one rotation of the nut. Lead
is equal to the pitch in case of single start threads; it is twice the pitch in double start, thrice
the pitch in triple start and so on.
Crest: It is the top surface of the thread.
Root: It is the bottom surface created by the two adjacent flanks of the thread.
Depth of thread: It is the perpendicular distance between the crest and root.
Flank: It is the surface joining the crest and root.
Angle of thread: It is the angle included by the flanks of the thread.
Slope: It is half the pitch of the thread.
DESIGN OF THREADED FASTNERS
Modes of Failure

Consider a bolted joint subjected to tensile load as shown in Figure. Possible modes of failure
of bolt under this loading are as follows
Tensile Failure of Bolt
Maximum tensile stress induced in the bolt is given by,

where, dc = core diameter of the bolt. Cross-section at core diameter is the weakest section.
In addition to this, threads of the bolt can also fail in shear and crushing. For analysing that, it
is assumed that each turn of the thread supports equal load and failure occurs in the threads of
the bolt and not in the threads of the nut. Also stress concentration is neglected in the analysis
of the bolts.
Shear Failure of Threads
Maximum shear stress developed in the threads is given by,

where n = no. of turns, b = width of thread section at the root

where n = no. of turns, d = outer diameter of the bolt

where P, in this case, is the force acting on the joint perpendicular to the axis of bolt.
Using above relations, core diameter of the bolt can be calculated for a given material and
type of loading. If the standard tables of bolts are available, a suitable bolt can be selected
and other dimensions can be taken from the table. If tables are not available approximate
relation dc = 0.8 d is generally used to find the nominal diameter of the bolt. (Exact relation
for ISO metric threads is dc = d – 1.22687 p, where p is the pitch).
Pre-stress in Bolts
Stress develops in the threaded joint because of initial tightening torque. Stress developed is
compressive in the members and tensile in nature in the bolts. Value of initial tension in the
bolts is calculated using an empirical relation.
Initial Tension, Fi = 2840 d (N) (for fluid tight joints)
= 1420 d (N) (for other joints)
where, d is nominal diameter of the bolt in mm. Initial Stress in the bolt can be calculated
from Fi .
Eccentrically Loaded Bolted Joints
Eccentric Load acting in the plane of the Bolts
Consider the joint shown in Figure. Let a force P is acting at a distance e from the centre of
gravity. This eccentric force can be considered as equivalent to an imaginary force P acting at
the centre of gravity and a moment ‘Pe’ about the centre of gravity.
Primary shear force developed in the bolts, because of the direct load,

Secondary shear force because of the moment can be determined as follows.

It is assumed that the secondary shear force in any bolt is proportional to its distance from the
centre of gravity.

Considering C as a proportionality constant,

So,

Similarly P"2, P"3 and P"4 the values can be calculated. Primary and secondary shear forces
are then vectorially added to get the resultant shear force in each bolt, which can then be used
to find the stresses.
Eccentric Load acting perpendicular to the plane of the Bolts
Consider a bracket bolted to a structure as shown in Figure. Let an eccentric force P be acting
at a distance e from the structure. Lower two bolts are denoted by 2 and upper two by 1. P is
acting perpendicular to the axes of the bolts and leads to a direct shear load, which can be
given by,

Also, because of eccentricity, P leads to a moment Pe, which tends to tilt the bracket about the
edge C. This leads to resisting tensile forces in all the bolts, which are proportional to their
distance from C. If resisting tensile forces developed in bolts at position 1 and 2 respectively,

Considering C as a proportionality constant,

Or

and
Bolts farthest from the tilting edge have maximum value of resisting tensile force. Therefore
stresses in the bolts denoted by 1 will have maximum stresses which can be determined as
follows:
Maximum principal stresses developed in the bolts can then be found and compared with the
allowable values or bolt dimensions can be found for a given material.
Eccentric Load acting parallel to the plane of the Bolts
Consider the bracket bolted to structure shown in Figure. Let an eccentric force P be acting at
a distance e from the edge C about which it tends to tilt the bracket. There are two bolts at
each position i.e. 1 & 2. As P, in this case, is acting parallel to the axes of the bolts, it leads to
a primary tensile force and a secondary tensile force due to the moment.

Primary tensile forces are given by,

Total tensile force in each bolt at position 1 & 2 are given by,
P1 = P'1 + P"2 and P2 = P'2 + P"2
As bolts at 1 are farthest from the edge about which the bracket tends to tilt, maximum
resisting force is developed in those. Maximum tensile stress in bolts at position 1 is given
by,

This can be compared with the allowable values of tensile stress.