What happens when a bolt comes loose on a bolt?
This stretching, or tension, results in an opposing clamp force that holds the two sections of the joint together. If the bolt comes loose, this clamp force weakens. Loose bolts are not just an irritating nuisance.
Why are some of the bolts on my car breaking?
By definition, an under-tightened bolt is already loose and the joint does not have enough clamp force to hold the individual sections together. This can lead to sideways slippage between sections, placing unwanted shear stress on the bolt that could eventually cause it to break. Vibration.
What causes a bolt to loosen under vibration?
Washers. Washers are typically wider than the bolt head, with the additional surface area adding extra friction to the joint to maintain the clamp force. However, simple split washers, sometimes called helical spring washers, have been found to actually loosen the bolt under vibration even faster than a joint with no washer.
What’s the best way to keep bolts from loosening?
Selecting an appropriate bolt retention device is essential to prevent loosening of bolts and maintaining proper preload. For example, wedge-locking washers help maintain preload by not allowing the bolt to self-rotate. However, vibration tests show that many bolt retention solutions are less than successful in preventing loose bolts]
This stretching, or tension, results in an opposing clamp force that holds the two sections of the joint together. If the bolt comes loose, this clamp force weakens. Loose bolts are not just an irritating nuisance.
By definition, an under-tightened bolt is already loose and the joint does not have enough clamp force to hold the individual sections together. This can lead to sideways slippage between sections, placing unwanted shear stress on the bolt that could eventually cause it to break. Vibration.
Selecting an appropriate bolt retention device is essential to prevent loosening of bolts and maintaining proper preload. For example, wedge-locking washers help maintain preload by not allowing the bolt to self-rotate. However, vibration tests show that many bolt retention solutions are less than successful in preventing loose bolts]
Washers. Washers are typically wider than the bolt head, with the additional surface area adding extra friction to the joint to maintain the clamp force. However, simple split washers, sometimes called helical spring washers, have been found to actually loosen the bolt under vibration even faster than a joint with no washer.
How can you tell if a bolt is properly tightened?
With their patented Visual Indication System, it is easy to determine that a SmartBolt in a bolted joint has achieved the proper level of tension, because it correlates fastener tension with color. Later, routine checks of bolt tension can be performed more often, and more quickly, so you know at a glance that the bolts are properly tightened.
What causes loose bolts on an ocean freighter?
Under constant vibration from the engine of an ocean freighter, loose bolts on a large piece of mining equipment work their way off the bolted joints and roll around the hull, inflicting further damage to the equipment. What Causes Loose Bolts?