How Do You Calculate Factor of Safety for a Steel Bolt in Tension and Shear?

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To calculate the factor of safety for a steel bolt in tension and shear, one must consider both tensile and shear stresses. The ultimate tensile stress is given as 490 MN/m², and the ultimate shear stress is 290 MN/m². The calculated direct stress is 35.12 MPa, leading to a tensile safety factor of 13.95 and a shear safety factor of 8.26. It is essential to use a combined stress formula when both shear and tensile loads are significant, as the lower safety factor will govern the design. For this case, the individual safety factors are high, but the combined effects should be evaluated if stresses are substantial.
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Homework Statement


[/B]
The 14mm diameter steel bolt with modulus of elasticity of 210GPa and modulus of rigidity of 85 GPa shown in the diagram below holds two components together. The thickness of the bolted interface of the components is 18mm. To 2 decimal places, for the given loading;

Assuming the ultimate tensile stress is 490MN/m2 and the ultimate shear stress is 290MN/m2 determine the factor of safety in operation.

Forces - http://imgur.com/mbTD0Xg

Homework Equations



Assuming the ultimate tensile stress is 490MN/m2 and the ultimate shear stress is 290MN/m2 determine the factor of safety in operation.

The Attempt at a Solution



I have resolves the forces and found the following[/B]

Direct Stress 35.12 Mpa
Tensile Stress 0.17 Mpa (I think something may be amiss here)
Sheet Stress 26.24 Mpa

But for the factor of safety the notes I have been given say to divide the UTS by the direct stress,

So 490/35.12 = 13.95 (seems rather high). But then do I repeat for the Ultimate sheer stress?

So again 290/35.12 = 8.26.

Then is the lower of the two value?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
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No one answered. I think you have two modes of failure, each having its own FoS. The lowest must be the relevant one.
 
AutumnBeds said:
Tensile Stress 0.17 Mpa (I think something may be amiss here)

Please show us your workings for this problem .
 
Bolts subjected to both shear and tension forces have allowable stresses governed by shear-tension interaction equations specified by applicable loads. The safety factor depends on what the results of the interaction equation show. It could be quite less than the safety factor for tension alone or shear alone. As requested, please show your work.
 
AutumnBeds said:
Sorry for not responding on this - I've been away for a few weeks on vacation.

Please find attached workings out as requested.

http://imgur.com/a/OLXFV

http://imgur.com/whVrTat

http://imgur.com/prJRAke

http://imgur.com/ObVc6KR

Thanks
The terms 'direct' stress and 'tensile' stress need definition. Direct stress is tensile stress if no shear stresses exist. Tensile stress is the actual tensile stress on the bolt. In your first image, you are calculating the tensile stress, which you did correctly , except you transposed some numbers it should be 5734, you wrote 5374.

In the 2nd image, you are calculating tensile strain, not stress, and strain is a dimensionless number. I am unsure why you are doing this, though.

In the third image, you have calculated the shear stress correctly.

Now in the 4th image, you calculate a safety factor for tension stress and a safety factor for shear stress, and both are rather large safety factors, but you really can't look at the overall safety factor of the bolt without calculating the effects of both tensile and shear loads applied at the same time, because the shear stress reduces the allowable tensile stress in the bolt, using a combined tension and shear stress formula to determine the allowable tensile stress. Only then can you calculate the safety factor, which will be the lowest of the 3 safety factors so calculated. Are you familiar with combined shear and tension stress formulas? I suspect that the safety factor for shear alone will control, because your actual stresses are rather low, but generally speaking, when shear and tensile stresses are high, the combined stress safety factor will be a lot less than the individual tension and shear alone safety factors.
 
Thanks,

1. Will redo the calculation and transpose the numbers correctly

2. This most likely just a written error on my behalf

3. Thanks - occasionally I get things correct.

4. No - nothing in the course notes gives guidance on the using the columbines stresses to calculate the fos. If you can offer any guidance on this I would be grateful.

Thanks again.
 
I
AutumnBeds said:
Thanks,

1. Will redo the calculation and transpose the numbers correctly

2. This most likely just a written error on my behalf

3. Thanks - occasionally I get things correct.

4. No - nothing in the course notes gives guidance on the using the columbines stresses to calculate the fos. If you can offer any guidance on this I would be grateful.

Thanks again.
If it's not in your notes, I guess they are not looking for a combined stress formula, which probably isn't necessary on this problem where stresses are rather low and shear alone safety factor controls.
A combined stress formula for bolts might look like ( approxomTely...don't use it at face value F_t = 1.3 F_u - 5 f_v </= F_u where
F_u = max direct tensile syress at failure
F_t = max allowed tensile failure stress
f_v = applied shear load shear stress

If stresses are low then individual shear or tension safety factors control, but when stresses are high, the combined stress governs and must be used.
 
Last edited:

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