The Effect of Clearance and Pre-Tension on the Performance of a Bolted-Joint Using 3D FEA

摘要

A bolted joint is a typical connection that is widely used in machine assemblies and structural components. These joints encounter several types of working load. This paper is concerned with the analysis of a bolted joint under shear and tensile loading using a three-dimensional finite element method. Modeling a bolted joint with three-dimensional finite element (FE) applications is not an established technique. We make a full three-dimensional FE model complete with contact surfaces, clearance between bolt and hole, and pre-tension. This model identifies the localized points of high stress concentration, which is not possible with the simplified two-dimensional or axi-symmetric models previously reported. A comprehensive investigation is made on the effect of clearance and pre-tension on the mechanical behavior of a single bolt joint under shear loading. Certain of the numerical results are verified by measuring the performance under load of a bolt shear joint. The study is then extended by analyzing the bolted joint in tension with varying levels of pre-tension.