Bolted Joint Preload Distribution from Torque Tightening

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of how bolt preloads are distributed within a joint as each bolt is tightened in turn by the use of a calibrated torque wrench. It discusses how the order that the joints nuts/bolts are tightened can affect the final bolt preload. It also investigates the effect on incrementally increasing the bolt preload through a series of applications of the controlled torque tightening sequence.

Keywords

• bolted joint
• preloaded bolt
• bolt preload
• bolt tension
• multiple bolt
• multi bolt