Number of bolts required for a flanged coupling?

jacoja06

Hi everyone.

This question is giving me a real headache (literally). It should be simple, but I’ve spend probably the last 4-5 hours trying to figure it out. The left side of my brain is redundant.

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

The following specifications are used for the design of a flanged coupling between two coaxial shafts:

Speed: 650rpm
Power transmitted: 550 kW
Bolt diameter: 12mm
Pitch-circle diameter: 200mm
Material: Mild steel
Factor of safety: 4

Determine the number of bolts required, assuming the bolts are equally loaded.

2. Relevant equations

Ultimate Shear Strength of mild steel = 360 N/mm^2

Shear stress (MPa) = Force (Newtons) / Area (mm^2)

Factor of safety = Ultimate Shear Strength / Shear Stress

3. The attempt at a solution

I cannot get anything down at all. And I also cannot understand why they have given me Speed and Power. Is there maybe some way to work out the force for the shear stress equation?

Also for your information, this is question 27.11 from Val Ivanoff’s Engineering Mechanics.

Any help would be much appreciated!

tiny-tim

hi jacoja06! welcome to pf!
go back to basic definitions …

power = energy/time = work/time (same thing)

= force x distance/time

= force x distance x angle/time

jacoja06

Thanks for the reply and welcome! :)

So using that formula;

P = F x distance/time

550kw = F x (650rpm x ((2 x pi)/60))

F = 484.81N?

tiny-tim

you've missed out the radius

jacoja06

Oh, sorry... I didn't put the time in seconds in my last post. I was supposed to put;

550kw = F x (650rpm x ((2 x pi)/60)/60)

So;

550kw = F x (68.0678rad/60)

F = 484.81N

Where would the radius come into the equation?

SteamKing

Hint: Torque = Force * Distance

SteamKing

You've also got an extra factor of 60 in your RPM conversion. Remember 1 min = 60 sec

SteamKing

To solve the larger problem, how many bolts, you are trying to transmit a certain torque from one shaft to another at the coupling. You are given a standard size bolt to use, along with the material characteristics. How is the torque going to be transmitted? What type of stress will be set up in the bolts?

jacoja06

Thanks, steamking.

I think he distance part is confusing me the most at the moment. There isn't any specified distance I can use to find the force.

gneill

The pitch-circle is the circle concentric with the shaft where the bolt holes are located.

rakeshmech

total torque to be transmitted => T=9550P/N (N-m)
=> 9550*550/650 = 8080N-m
force on the coupling= 8080/0.250 =40400 N
assuming its a mild steel of yield strength 240MPa and shear strength of 120 MPa,with a factor of safety of 4 the design shear strength is 30Mpa

we have area of each bolt = Pi*12*12/4 =113.04mm2

total load that a single bolt can take = 113*30 = 3390N

so you will need 40400/3390 = 12 bolts.

I hope this clarifies your question and i stand to be corrected if I'm wrong.

rakeshmech

speed and power helps you to find the torque..... you can use the equation I specified above, or you can also use this

Power =(2*Pi*N*T)/60

also, we design machines with factor of safety as a function of yield strength rather than UTS. :)

rakeshmech

Sorry!! the force on the coupling would be 8080/0.125 (consider the radius... not diameter. silly error :) )
follow the same methodology

WillemBouwer

My view on this problem:

Bolt material: SANS 1431 GR 300WA (Mild steel). It is assumed that the minimum specified ultimate strength is 400 MPa and a proof strength of σ4.8 = 320 MPa which gives a shear yield strength of: 0.577x320 MPa = 185 MPa

Shaft speed: N = 650 RPM
Power transmitted: P = 550 kW
Bolt diameter: D = 12 mm
PCD = 200 mm
Factor of safety: SF = 1.2

The bolts will have to withstand two types of loading:
Pre-tensile loading from fastening torque
Shear loading from transferring required power

Recommended bolt torque: 40 Nm
This gives internal bolt force of:
F=T⁄0.2D
F=40⁄(0.2×(0.012))
F=16.67 kN
Tensile axial stress per bolt:
σ_1=F⁄A
σ_1=16670⁄((π×〖(9.85)〗^2)⁄4)
σ_1=219 MPa

Predict number of bolts required will be 8.
Shear stress:
P=F×v
with
v=ωr
v=N(2π⁄60)r
v=650(2π⁄60)(0.1)
v=6.806 m/s
this gives
550000=F×6.806
F=80.811 kN
Hence
F_(per bolt)=80811⁄8
F_(per bolt)=10.1 kN

Shear per bolt
τ_(per bolt)=F⁄A
τ_(per bolt)=10101⁄((π×(9.85)^2)⁄4)
τ_(per bolt)=132.56 MPa

If friction is neglected these stresses work together to give a Von Mises equivalent stress (In plane stress) of:
σ_vm=√(〖σ_1〗^2+〖3(τ)〗^2 )
σ_vm=√(〖219〗^2+〖3(132.56)〗^2 )
σ_vm=317.3 MPa
This gives a Safety factor of:

SF=σ_4.8⁄σ_vm
SF=320⁄317.3
SF=1.008

This indicates that when 8 bolts are to be used, it will be able to transfer the loads with a safety factor of 0.8% which is not adequate for the operation.








Newly predict that the number of bolts required will be 12:
Hence
F_(per bolt)=80811⁄12
F_(per bolt)=6734 N

Shear per bolt
τ_(per bolt)=F⁄A
τ_(per bolt)=6734⁄((π×(9.85)^2)⁄4)
τ_(per bolt)=88.37 MPa

If friction is neglected these stresses work together to give a Von Mises equivalent stress (In plane stress) of:
σ_vm=√(〖σ_1〗^2+〖3(τ)〗^2 )
σ_vm=√(〖219〗^2+〖3(88.37)〗^2 )
σ_vm=267 MPa
This gives a Safety factor of:

SF=σ_4.8⁄σ_vm
SF=320⁄267
SF=1.2

This indicates that when 12 bolts are to be used, it will be able to transfer the loads with a safety factor of 20% which will be adequate for the operation

Ideally the torque should be transmitted through friction alone
With
F=T⁄r
And
N=F⁄μ÷4

With friction coefficient of 0.3 the amount of internal bolt force needed to transmit the power through friction alone is then:
F=80811 N
And
N=80811⁄0.3÷12
N=22.45 kN per bolt

SF=16.67⁄22.45
SF=0.75

Provided that the bolts are torqued to the recommended value of 40 Nm the connection would not be able to transmit the torque through friction alone.

For the ideal working, increase the number of bolts so that the power would be transmitted through friction alone, say 16 bolts...

I see that this is an old thread, just thought my feedback would do some good...

Chestermiller

I have received nasty Warnings in the past from PF about revealing the entire solution to the OP without giving them an adequate chance to solve it themselves, and have had my replies removed from the thread. How come no one is receiving Notifications in this thread?

tiny-tim

Hi Chestermiller!

I'm not a mentor, but I'll guess that it's because the OP asked the question over a year ago, and …
… probably has solved it himself by now!

WillemBouwer

Yes I guessed that this is very old so the solution would have been found, seeing that you say that I gave the entire solution I believe my equations is correct?

Just came upon the thread and saw no solution has been found that seems correct for me, and i tried giving a solution.

Chestermiller, did not even know about the NASTY WARNINGS, but will keep it in mind for the future, thanks...