Bolt Thread and Head Fillet Stress Concentration Factors

Abstract Linear finite element analysis (fea) was performed to determine stress concentration factors for the threads and the bolt head fillet in a bolted connection. The fea models consisted of axisymmetric representations of a bolt and two circular steel plates each 20 mm in thickness. The bolts studied were 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 mm diameter grade 10.9 metric bolts with the standard M thread profile. The threads were modeled at both the minimum and maximum allowable depths. The fillet between the bolt shank and bolt head connection was modeled at its minimum radius. Each bolt was loaded to its proof strength. A comparison is made to stress concentration factors typically used in bolted connection design. Stress concentration factors in the head fillet were 3.18, 3.23, 3.63, 3.58, and 3.90 for the 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 mm bolts, respectively. Thread stress concentration factors were highest in the first engaged thread and decreased in each successive thread moving toward the end of the bolt. Stress concentration factors for the shallow thread models ranged from 1.17 to 4.33, 0.87 to 4.32, 0.83 to 4.67, 0.87 to 4.77, and 0.82 to 4.82 for the 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 mm bolts, respectively. Likewise, stress concentration factors for the deep thread models ranged from 1.18 to 4.80, 0.88 to 4.80, 0.78 to 5.12, 0.83 to 5.17, and 0.82 to 5.22 for the 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 mm bolts, respectively.