Effect of Separating Load Eccentricity on the Clamp Load Loss in a Bolted Joint Using a Strain Hardening Model

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayed A. Nassar ◽  
Mohan Ganganala

A nonlinear model is proposed for studying the effect of the eccentricity of applied tensile forces on the clamp load loss in bolted joints that were initially tightened beyond the bolt elastic limit while the joint remained in the elastic range. A closed form solution is obtained for the amount of clamp load loss due to a cyclic separating force. The proposed model takes into account two sources of nonlinearity, namely, the strain hardening behavior of the yielded bolt material as well as the nonlinear deformation behavior of the clamped plates under an external separating load. After the initial tightening of the fastener past its elastic limit, the subsequent application of a tensile separating force on the joint tends to increase the fastener tension in a nonlinear fashion, and, simultaneously, reduce the clamping force in the bolted joint from its initial value. Upon the removal of the cyclic tensile load, the bolted joint system reaches a new equilibrium point between the residual fastener tension and the joint clamping force. At the new equilibrium point, the fastener tension is reduced from its preload due to its plastic elongation; simultaneously, a partial yet permanent loss in the clamp load level takes place. Excessive clamp load loss may lead to joint leakage, fastener loosening, or fatigue failure. For a known amplitude of the external cyclic tensile load, the increase in bolt tension and corresponding reduction in the joint clamp load are highly sensitive to the eccentricity of the tensile load (from the bolt center). Variables studied include the eccentricity value of the separating load, rate of strain hardening of the bolt material, compressive and tensile stiffness of the clamped plates, bolt stiffness, bolt preload, and magnitude of the separating tensile load.

Author(s):  
Sayed A. Nassar ◽  
Mohan Ganganala

A nonlinear model is proposed for studying the effect of the eccentricity of applied tensile forces on the clamp load loss in bolted joints that were initially tightened beyond the bolt elastic limit. The joint may not have been yielded at initial assembly, however. A closed form solution is obtained for the amount of clamp load loss due to a cyclic separating force. The proposed model takes into account two sources of nonlinearity; namely, the strain hardening behavior of the yielded bolt material as well as the nonlinear deformation behavior of the clamped plates under an external separating load. After the initial tightening of the fastener past its elastic limit, the subsequent application of a tensile separating force on the joint tends to increase the fastener tension in a nonlinear fashion, and simultaneously reduce the clamping force in the bolted joint from its initial value. Upon the removal of the cyclic tensile load, the bolted joint system reaches a new equilibrium point between the residual fastener tension, and the joint clamping force. At the new equilibrium point, the fastener tension is reduced from its preload due to its plastic elongation; simultaneously, a partial-yet permanent-loss in the clamp load level takes place. Excessive clamp load loss may lead to joint leakage, fastener loosening, or fatigue failure. For a known amplitude of the external cyclic tensile load, the increase in bolt tension and corresponding reduction in the joint clamp load are highly sensitive to the eccentricity of the tensile load (from the bolt center). Variables studied include the eccentricity value of the separating load, the rate of strain hardening of the bolt material, compressive and tensile stiffnesses of the clamped plates, bolt stiffness, bolt preload, and the magnitude of the separating tensile load.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 1328-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayed A. Nassar ◽  
Payam H. Matin

Closed form solution for the amount of clamp load loss due to an externally applied separating force is determined for a bolted assembly in which the fastener is initially tightened beyond its proportional limit. The joint may or may not have been yielded at initial assembly, however. After the initial tightening of the fastener, the joint is subsequently subjected to a tensile separating force, which further increases the fastener tensile stress into the nonlinear range. Such a separating force will simultaneously reduce the clamping force in the bolted joint. Upon the removal of the separating service load, the bolted joint system reaches a new equilibrium point between the fastener tension and the joint clamping force. At the new equilibrium point, the fastener tension is reduced from its value at initial assembly, due to the plastic elongation of the fastener. The reduction in fastener tension translates into a partial—yet permanent—loss of the clamping load, which may lead to joint leakage, loosening, or fatigue failure. A nonlinear strain hardening model is implemented in order to describe the fastener behavior past the proportional limit of its material, and to determine the clamp load loss due to the permanent set in the fastener after the separating force has been removed. In order to study the effect of strain hardening, various rates of strain hardening are used for modeling the behavior of the fastener material. The effect of three nondimensional variables on the amount of clamp load loss is investigated. This includes the joint-to-fastener stiffness ratio, the ratio of initial fastener tension to its elastic limit, and the ratio of the separating force to its maximum value that would cause joint separation to start. Analytical results are presented for a range of stiffness ratios that simulates both soft and hard joint applications.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayed A. Nassar ◽  
Payam H. Matin

The amount of clamp load due to an externally applied separating force is determined for a boiled assembly in which the fastener is elongated past its proportional limit, while the clamped joint remained within its elastic range. After the initial tightening of the fastener, the joint is subsequently subjected to a tensile separating force, which further increases the fastener tensile stress into the nonlinear range. Such separating force will simultaneously reduce the clamping force in the bolted joint. Upon the removal of the separating service load, the bolted joint system reaches a new equilibrium point between the fastener tension and the joint clamping force. At the new equilibrium point, the fastener tension is reduced from its value at initial assembly, due to the plastic elongation of the fastener. The reduction in fastener tension translates into a partial—yet permanent—loss of the clamping load that may lead to joint leakage, loosening, or fatigue failure. A nonlinear model is established in order to describe the fastener behavior past the proportional limit of its material, and to determine the clamp load loss due to the permanent set in the fastener after the separating force has been removed. Two fastener materials with significantly different rates of strain hardening are used for modeling the behavior of the bolted joint system. The effect of three nondimensional variables on the amount of clamp load loss is investigated. The first variable is the stiffness ratio of the joint and the fastener. The second is the ratio of initial fastener tension to the fastener elastic limit, and the third variable is the ratio of the separating force to the force that causes joint separation to start. Analytical results are presented for a range of stiffness ratios that simulates both soft and hard joint applications. Experimental verification of the analytical results is presented.


Author(s):  
Payam H. Matin ◽  
Sayed A. Nassar

The amount of clamp load loss due to a fully reversed cyclic service load is determined for a bolted assembly in which both the fastener and the joint were initially tightened beyond their respective proportional limits. After the initial tightening of the fastener, the joint is subsequently subjected to a fully reversed cyclic load that acts as a tensile separating force in the first half cycle, and as a compressive force on the joints during the second half cycle of the loading. During the first quarter cycle, the separating force would increase the fastener tensile stress further into the non-linear range. Such separating force would simultaneously reduce the clamping force in the bolted joint. At the end of the following quarter of the cycle, the bolted joint system reaches a new equilibrium point between the fastener tension and the joint clamping force. At the new equilibrium point, the clamp load is reduced from its initial value, due to the plastic elongation of the fastener. In the third quarter of the cycle, the compressive service load would increase the joint compressive stress into the non-linear range. Similarly, the clamp load loss would be increased at the end of the second half cycle, due to the plastic compression in the joint. The total clamp load loss may significantly lead to joint leakage, loosening, or fatigue failure. A non-linear strain hardening model is implemented in order to determine the clamp load loss due to accumulative effect of the permanent set in the fastener and the joint after the service load had been removed. Various rates of strain hardening are used for modeling the behavior of the fastener and joint materials. The effect of three non-dimensional variables on the amount of clamp load loss is investigated. The variables include the joint-to-fastener stiffness ratio, the ratio of the initial fastener tension to its elastic limit, and the ratio of the external force to its maximum tensile value that would cause joint separation to start.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Basil A. Housari ◽  
Ali A. Alkelani ◽  
Sayed A. Nassar

An improved mathematical model is proposed for predicting clamp load loss due gasket creep relaxation in bolted joints, taking into consideration gasket behavior, bolt stiffness, and joint stiffness. The gasket creep relaxation behavior is represented by a number of parameters which has been obtained experimentally in a previous work. An experimental procedure is developed to verify the proposed model using a single-bolt joint. The bolt is tightened to a target preload and the clamp load loss due to gasket creep relaxation is observed over time under various preload levels. The experimental and analytical results are presented and discussed. The proposed model provides a prediction of the residual clamp load as a function of time, gasket material and thickness, bolt stiffness, and joint stiffness. The improved model can be used to simulate the behavior of creep relaxation in soft joints as the joint stiffness effect is considered. Additionally, a closed form solution is formulated to determine the initial clamp load level necessary to provide the desired level of a steady state residual clamp load in the joint, by taking the gasket creep relaxation into account.


Author(s):  
Sayed A. Nassar ◽  
Payam H. Matin

The effect of fastener tightening beyond yield on the amount of clamp load loss, due to the application of a separating force, is investigated for a system in which the bolted joint remains within its elastic range. After the initial assembly, the joint is subsequently subjected to a tensile separating force, which increases the tensile stress in the fastener further into the plastic range. Simultaneously, the separating force reduces the clamping force. Upon the removal of the separating service load from the system, the system reaches a new equilibrium point between the fastener tension and the joint clamping force. At the new equilibrium point, the tension in the fastener is reduced due to its plastic elongation. The reduction in fastener tension translates to a partial, yet permanent, reduction in the clamping force. Excessive loss of the clamp load is a failure mode that may lead to joint leakage, loosening, or fatigue failure. Additionally, the loss of the clamp force reduces the mean stress, which may significantly affect the fatigue performance of the system under subsequent cyclic loads. A discretized non-linear model is established in order to describe the fastener behavior, and to determine the clamp load loss due to the permanent set in the fastener. The effect of two non-dimensional variables on the amount of clamp load loss is investigated. The first variable is the fastener-to-joint stiffness ratio, and the second is the ratio of initial fastener tension to its yield strength. Analytical results are presented for a range of stiffness ratios that simulates both soft and hard joint applications.


Author(s):  
Basil A. Housari ◽  
Ali A. Alkelani ◽  
Sayed A. Nassar

An improved mathematical model is proposed for predicting the residual clamp load in gasketed bolted joints, taking into consideration gasket creep relaxation behavior, bolt stiffness, and joint stiffness. The gasket creep relaxation behavior is represented by a number of parameters which has been obtained experimentally in a previous work. An experimental procedure is developed to verify the proposed model using a single-bolt joint. The bolt is tightened to a target preload and the clamp load loss due to gasket creep relaxation is observed over time under various preload levels. The experimental and analytical results are presented and discussed. The proposed model provides a prediction of the residual clamp load as a function of time, gasket material and thickness, bolt stiffness, and joint stiffness. The improved model can be used to simulate the behavior of creep relaxation in soft joints as the joint stiffness effect is considered. Additionally, a closed form solution is formulated to determine the initial clamp load level necessary to provide the desired level of a steady state residual clamp load in the joint, by taking the gasket creep relaxation into account.


Author(s):  
Yosef Amir ◽  
Saravanakumar Iyyanar ◽  
Aravind Devali ◽  
Muniratnam Kumar

Bending stress calculation in eccentric bolted joints is a well-known process in the design of bolted joints. However, in a concentric bolted joint with transverse load, the existence of bending stress is generally not considered as critical. But in reality, there is a possibility of catastrophic failure of the bolt occurring in a concentric bolted joint as a result of the bending stress even before the joint looseness or before the bolt fracture under tension. The aim of this paper is to propose a closed form solution to predict the potential risk of this failure that could be developed particularly at moderate preload of the bolt. Three concentric bolted joint cases with M12, M10 and M8 with transverse load and external tension load were investigated; FEA and experimental results validated the closed form calculation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali A. Alkelani ◽  
Basil A. Housari ◽  
Sayed A. Nassar

A mathematical model is proposed for predicting the residual clamp load during creep and∕or relaxation in gasketed joints. An experimental procedure is developed to verify the proposed model for predicting the gasket relaxation under a constant compression, gasket creep under a constant stress, and gasket creep relaxation. To study gasket creep relaxation, a single-bolt joint is used. The bolt is tightened to a target preload and the clamp load decay due to gasket creep relaxation is observed over time under various preload levels. Experimental and analytical results are presented and discussed. The proposed model provides an accurate prediction of the residual clamp load as a function of time, gasket material, and geometric properties of the gasket. A closed form solution is formulated to determine the initial clamp load level necessary to provide the desired level of a steady state residual clamp load in the joint, by taking the gasket creep relaxation into account.


2010 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei Alexandrov ◽  
Yeong-Maw Hwang

Finite deformation elastic-plastic analysis of plane-strain pure bending of a strain hardening sheet is presented. The general closed-form solution is proposed for an arbitrary isotropic hardening law assuming that the material is incompressible. Explicit relations are given for most popular conventional laws. The stage of unloading is included in the analysis to investigate the distribution of residual stresses and springback. The paper emphasizes the method of solution and the general qualitative features of elastic-plastic solutions rather than the study of the bending process for a specific material. In particular, it is shown that rigid-plastic solutions can be used to predict the bending moment at sufficiently large strains.


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