Fatigue analysis of preloaded bolted joints

Abstract

This article presents Wöhler plots, or S-N curves, for use in the analysis of bolt fatigue of preloaded bolted joints. Preloaded bolts under cyclic loading have a high mean stress with a small alternating stress. This is combined with a large stress concentration at the thread root. The method of fatigue analysis presented uses S-N curves with a zero mean stress. The high mean stress experienced by the bolts is accounted for using a function to calculate a damage-equivalent stress. Notch sensitivity was considered to modify S-N curves for materials with chemical compositions encompassed within the material specifications for high strength bolts. This produced S-N curves for stress concentrations relevant to bolt threads. Curve fitting techniques were used to express these curves as a function of the equivalent stress and stress ratio. An estimate of residual stresses in bolts produced by thread rolling was made. The work provides a practical method of calculating fatigue life.