Stick together: The nuts and bolts of vehicle testing

摘要

The function of a threaded connection is to keep two or more components together. To achieve this goal, the connector has to exert a certain clamping force that has to be greater than those forces that could cause the fastened components to loosen both during operations, and when at rest. This force level means that the cylinder head will have to be pressed against the engine block with a force that is greater than the opposing forces stemming from the combustion pressure. It is quite clear that the clamping force is thus a major identifying or characterizing factor in a threaded connection and therefore it is necessary for the manufacturer and the user to know, and be able to measure this magnitude both precisely and reliably. Threaded screw and bolt connections can, by their very nature, be disassembled. There is a very convincing reason for selecting such connections, to make it possible to dismantle components, permitting replacements and repairs.