Design of screw fasteners

Bolts and Screws are threaded fasteners which are used to hold together machine members which
require easy dismantling.

What is the difference between bolt and screw?

 Bolts are provided with nuts but screws are without nut.

Types of Bolts Types of Screws

1. Machine Bolt 1. Cap screw

2. Eye Bolt 2. Machine screw
3. Stud Bolt 3. Set screw
4. Stove bolt 4. Power screw
5. U bolt
6. Carriage bolt

Types of Threads;

1. UNC (Unified National Coarse or Coarse Thread Series) – it is recommended for general used
unless there is a reason for using another.
2. UNF (Unified National Fine) – frequently used in automobile and aircraft work and where a fine
adjustment is required.
3. UNEF (Unified National Extra Fine or Extra Fine Thread Series) – particularly useful in
aeronautical equipment; suitable where thin-walled material is to be threaded and where fine
adjustment is required.
4. 8UN (Unified 8 – thread series) – is used on bolts for high pressure pipe flanges, cylinder head,
studs and etc.

Threads Designation:

A – External threads B – internal threads

1 – for quick and easy assembly 2 – suitable for normal production practices
3 – use only to meet exacting requirements

Ex. (English units) 1” – 8 UNC – 2A (1” major diameter, 8 is the thread/inch, UNC is the type of
thread and 2A is the thread designation)
(Metric Thread Series) M 16 x 2 – 6 g (M for metric thread system, 16 in mm major diameter, 2 is
pitch in mm/thread, 6 is magnitude of tolerance and g if external thread or h if
internal)
Terms to Consider:
Pitch (p) – distance between similar points on adjacent threads.
Lead (L) – distance that the screw will advanced in one revolution.
Minor (root) diameter (Dr) – is the smallest diameter of the threads.
Pitch diameter (Dm) – is the mean of major and minor diameter.
Major (nominal) diameter (Dn) – is the outside diameter of the threads and is the nominal diameter.
Crest – is the top surface of the thread.
Root – is the bottom surface created by the two adjacent flanks of the thread.
Depth of thread – is the perpendicular distance between the crest and root.
Flank – is the surface joining the crest and root.
Angle of thread – is the angle included by the flanks of the thread.
Slope – is half the pitch of the thread.

Formulas:

1
Pitch ( p ) =
number of thread per inch

Lead (L): L = p (single threaded) L = 2p (double-threaded)

L = np (n-threaded)

Dr + D n
Pitch diameter: D m =
2

Initial Tensile or Initial Compression (Fi)

F i=16,000 D n , lbs (without gasket) F i=8,000 Dn (with gasket)
Where: Fi = initial tension in a bolt
Dn = nominal diameter
Tightening Torque
T =C D n F i
where: Dn = nominal bolt size
C = torque coefficient
C = 0.20 for as received
C = 0.15 for as lubricated
Fi = initial tension

Torsional Shear Stress caused by the frictional resistance of the threads during its tightening.
16 T
τ=
π ( Dr )3
Where: T = torque
Dr = root diameter
Tensile Stress at the root or stress area
Fa
σ=
A
Where: σ = tensile stress
F = applied load
A = root area
Shear Stress across the Threads at the root
Fa
τ s=
π D r x b x nt
Where: b = width of the thread section at the root
 nt = number of threads

For average thread shearing stress for the nut

Fa
τ n=
π D n x b x nt
Where: Dn = nominal or major diameter
Compression or crushing stress on threads
Fa
σ c=
π 2
( Dn −D2r ) nt
4

Design Tensile Strength of bolts and screw

σy 1/ 2
σ= ( As)
6

Then from F = σA

External Load on bolts, FE

σy 3 /2
FE= ( A s) where: FE = safe external tensile load for bolts and screws
6
σy = yield stress in tension
As = stress area
Note: 6 is not a factor of safety

4 F❑e
Dr =
√ π σt
where: FE = external load

Dr = root diameter
σt = tensile stress for the bolt material

π
FE= ( D r )2 σ t x n where: n = number of bolts
4
Dr = 0.84 Dn, for coarse thread
Shearing load carries by the bolts
Where: Fs = shearing load
π
F s = ( D n )2 x τ x n τ = shearing stress
4
n = number of bolts
4 Fs
D n=
√ πτn
Combined tension and shear stress
Maximum principal shear stress

1
τ max= ( σ t )2 +4 τ 2
√
2

Maximum principal tensile stress

σt 1 2 2
σ t(max )= √
+ ( σ t ) +4 τ
2 2
 Total Load on Bolts

F = F i + k Fe
Where: k = stiffness constant (0<k<1.0) = Kb/(Kb+Kg)
Kb = stiffness constant for bolts
Kg = stiffness constant for gasket
Note: k = 1.0, if gasket is soft and spongy
k = 0, if gasket is hard, thin or no gasket at all

Cylinder Head Bolts

(1) Force required on each bolt, Fe:
Force inside the cylinder = Total force acting on the bolts

p x Ac
F c =Fe x nb F e=
nb

Where: Fc = force on cylinder

Fluid
p = cylinder pressure Bolt
Ac = cylinder area
nb = number of bolts

(2) Depth to be drilled, H: H =1.5 D (cast iron) H = 1.25 D (for steel)

Where: D = nominal diameter
(3) Spacing or pitch of the bolt, p:
(a) p ≤7 D , for fluid pressure less than 50 psi
(b) p ≥3.5 D , for fluid pressures of about 200 psi .
(c) Distance between bolt centers to the cylinder wall must be at least equal to bolt
diameter.

Machinery’s Handbook Formulas:

Working Strength of bolts: W =σ t ( 0.55 D 2−0.25 D )

Where: W = working stress of the bolt
σt = allowable working stress
D = bolt diameter

Power Transmitted Torque Transmitted

DN d2 /3
P= T =1250 D d 2/3
50

Where: P = power transmitted (Hp) T = torque transmitted (in-lbs)

D = shaft diameter (inches) d = set screw diameter (inches)
n = rotative speed (rpm)

Design of Nuts

Fe σ y
(1) External tensile load on threads, F e : σ t= =
At FS
 Fe τ y
(2) External shearing load on threads, F e: τ = =
A s FS
Dr
(3) Thickness of the nut, h: h=
2
(4) Tightening torque on nut: tightening the nut produces a shear stress on the bolts.
Torque producing shear, T = 0.4 (Ttotal)
π 2
Where: At =tensile area= D h=tickness of the nut
4
A s=shear area=π D r h τ y =( 0.5 0.6 ) σ y

Examples:

1. An eye bolt is to be used for lifting a load of 60KN. Find the nominal diameter of the bolt, if the
tensile stress is not to exceed 100MPa. Assume coarse threads.

Solution:
Given: F = 60KN; σt = 100 MPa
Let: Dn = nominal diameter of the bolt
Dr = root diameter

F
σ= ; F=σA
A
π
60 x 103 N= ( Dr )2 ( 100 ) N /mm Dr =27.64 mm
4

For coarse series: D r =27.6 mm is close ¿28.706 mm the corresponding Dn=33 mm

2. The cylinder head of a steam engine is subjected to a steam pressure of 0.7 N/mm 2. It is held in
position by means of 12 bolts. A soft copper gasket is used to make the joint leak-proof. The
effective diameter of cylinder is 300 mm. Find the size of the bolts so that the stress in the bolts in
not to exceed 100 MPa.

Solution:
Given: p=0.7 n/m m2 n=12 D=300 mm σ t =100 MPa

External Load on the cylinder head per bolt

p x Ac
F e=
nb
π
( 300 mm )2
4 N
F e= (0.7 )
12 m m2
F e =4124 N

Initial Tension due to tightening of bolt

 F i=2840 Dn
For soft copper gasket with long through bolts, K=0.5
Resultant Axial Load on the bolt
F=F i+ KFe
F=2840 Dn +0.5( 4124)
F=¿) N
Load on the bolt
F=σA
π
2840 D n +2062= ( D r ) 2 σ
4
π
( 0.84 D n )2 ( 100 )=55.4 D 2n ------ (Letting: Dr = 0.84 Dn)
4
55.4 D 2n−2840 D n−2062=0
Consider D n=52 mm (By quadratic equation)