Effect of Location and Type of Separating Load on Joint Clamp Load and Bolt Tension

This study investigates the change in the tension of a tightened bolt, and the corresponding change in the joint clamp load due to various forms of dynamic separating load that is placed at different distances from the bolt center. Dynamic finite element analysis is performed using ABAQUS on a single-bolt joint using a separating force in the form of a step, shifted sinusoidal, ramp, cyclic ramp and square functions. The separating force is symmetrically placed at locations (from the bolt center) that are equal to 2, 3, 4, and 5 times the nominal diameter of the bolt. Changes in the bolt tension and the clamp load are investigated for three levels of the peak separating load. Dynamic FEA results are compared with those of static separating loads.