Loosening of Nut by Vibration

*
Dr. Sirisak Harnchoowong
Abstract
The objectIve of thIS paper is to study, theoretically, the effects
of various parameters on the amount of nut loosening per dynamic loading
cycle applied in the dlrectlon of bolt axis. The results show that the
in loosening resIstance of bolt-nut connections can be improved -by
decreasing the helix angle and/or increasing thread friction, base friction,
bolt length, nut wall thickness, and nut height .
*
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of
Engineering, Khan Kaen University, Khan Kaen 40002.

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.
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1. Introduction
In the past, several investigators have attempted to study how
bolt - nut connections loosen . Most of their experimental results showing
the effects of some parameters on the amount of nut loosening are quite in
an agreement. However; only Goodier and Sweeney proposed a theory of nut
loosening by vibrations. In their article, they derived the equations of
external torques required to loosen a nut in both an increasing bolt load
process and a decreasing bo l t l oad process. The nut, accorolng to their
tI!llmnU 40002
- 34 -
theory, will loosen if these external torques become negative or at least
zero.
The objective of this article is to develop a more complete
theory of nut loosening by vibrations and to study the effects of various
parameters on the amount of nut loosening.
The following assumptions are made:
1. stresses in a bolt and nut are below the elastic limit,
2. pressure on nut bearing surface is linearly distributed with
outside pressure equal to m times average pressure,
3. the clamped part are rigid,
4. a cornerless nut is used.
2. Development of the Theory
When a bolt-nut connection is loaded, the bolt diameter contracts
while the nut expands radially. There are two sliding motions observed in
the connection. One is the sliding of the nut threads on the bolt threads;
the other is the sliding of the nut on the clamped parts. The sliding
motion between the threads deviates from the radial direction because the
tangential thread load distributed along the entire contacting length will
produce a torque to twist the bolt shank by a small angle. The sliding
motion of the nut on the clamped parts would be in radial direction if
there were no rotary motion of the nut. However, a loosening torque
produced by the tangential thread load on nut threads tries to rotate the
nut in the loosening sense as the bolt-nut connection is loaded This
causes a "loosening rotation" of the nut when all contacting points on the
nut bearing surface start to slide. It should .be noted here that all
contacting points on the nut bearing surface do not start sliding at the
same time when a preload in the connection starts to change. The
- 35 -
contacting points lying on the innermost circle start first; then those
lying on the outer circles start; and the ones lying on the outermost
circle start last. The connection is said to be losing the capability of
loosening resistance when all of these contacting points are sliding.
ani)
--
t (I)
Fig.1 An inclined plane representing a nut thread contacting
surface
Consideration of the load on an arbitrary contacting point on
the nut thread surface as shown in Fig.1, the normal and friction forces
can be expressed vectorially by
-
I dP I (-sino<cosS'
-
-
dP
=
i + sinal j
_ cosClcosB'
n n
- - -
and df
t
=
i + cosecosY
t
j + sine
The resultant force of these two forces
- +(-ooso<cosS' + k 1.
Here: IdP 1= normal force magnitude
n
is
-
k)
(1)
-k) (2 )
(3)
- 36 -
tane' = tanecosa
r
t
= angle between the projection of frictional force on
tr-plane and the r-axis
S = half thread angle
a = helix angle
= coefficient of friction in threads.
By introducing the axial thread load per unit contacting length,
q equation (3) can be rewritten as
ai'
where
-
dR.
1
qai
=
C
ri
=
:::
-qai ds (C
ti
i - C
ri
j + k)
IdP Ids I (cosacosS'
n

radial thread load
=
axial thread load
tan(S
-1
- tan 1')
t
tangential thread load
axial thread load
tana +
1 + I'ttanS
sinSI
+
cosacosB'
- II
t
s
ine
sinacosS' - IItCOsesinrt
cosacosS' - II
t
Bine
s = distance along the helix.
Projecti-on of df
t
on tr-plane
du ' rr
p
d9
b
du _---\-
J ': ______
- r
I rp dUb dUnr
t
Fig.2 Displacement diagram and direction of the projection of
thread friction on tr-plane
(4)
- 37 -
The direction of thread friction as shown in Fig.2 can be obtained
from the relations
tan'Y
t
du - du
nr br
where 9
b
c twisting angle of the bolt body
'YL c loosening angle of the nut
u c radial displacement of nut threads
nr
u = radial displacement of bolt threads
/ br
(5 )
The normal and frictional forces at an arbitrary point on nut
bearing surface can be expressed as
-
dN " pdA k
(6)
- -
and df c
i - cos'Y
r
j)
(7)
where p = pressure on nut bearing surface at radius r
dA c a differential area on nut bearing surface at radius r
c coefficient of friction between nut and clamped parts
'Yr = an angle between a differential base friction at radiusr
,and the r-ax is.
friction
t
/
Nut bearing surface
Fig.3 Displacement diagram and direction of base friction on
nut bearing surface
- 38 -
The direction of a differential base friction as shown in Fig.3
can be determined 'from the relations
tan'Y
r
du
nr
or, for a very small ~ ,
r
sin'Y
r
= ---
where r c radius
du
nr
(8)
(9)
u = radial displacement of a contacting point on nut bearing
nr
surface at radius r.
A loosening torque, T
Li
, and a resisting torque, T
Ri
, on the
nut can be given by
(10)
and
( 11)
A twisting torque, TTi' and an elastic reaction torque, T
Ei
,
on the bel tare
f
H/sina
= r Ct.q .ds
o p 1 a1
(12 )
(13)
where kb = torsional stiffness of bolt body.
By letting q =Fbsina/H, q .=q ./q ,and t-s sina/H, equations
am rl a1 am
(10) and (12) become
1
= TT' = Fb
r
J C .q . d ~
1 pO tl rl
SUbstitution of C
ti
gives
Fbrptana
TLi E TTi = ~
1+lI
t
tanB
+
II F r
t b P
1 +lI
t
tanB
(14 )
(15 )
- 39 -
substitution of tan'Y
t
yields
where
TLi
=
TTi
=
[ 11 i
r tan().
11i=
p
, +11 t tanEl
12i=
IItr
p
, +11 t tanEl
F = bolt load
b
-
1
fo
12i (
deb d'YL
) J ' F --+
dFb dFb
b
qri
dF;
d
-(u
- u )
r
dFb nr
br
p
and qri= the ratio of load distribution On threads derived by
Harnchoowong[1 J.
By sUbstituting sin'Y into equation (11) and rearranging gives
r
where
R
t
D
n
Db
Since
TLi
=
I, i -
and

= "(D +
n
= Io(D
-
n
Db)
Db)
3
p(r/R) d(r/R)
1 d
- -(u )
r dFb nr
=
nut outside diameter
= bolt diameter .
TRi
and
TTi
= T
Ei
, thus
1
2u
deb d'YL
=
I3i
d'YL
-- +
dFb dFb dFb
+
Differentiation of equation (19) with respect to Fb yields
(16 )
(17 )
(1 e)
(19 )
- 40 -
11 i
12i (
deb
d'YL deb
-
-- + = k -
dFb dFb
b dF
b
(20)
By solving equations (18) and (20) simultaneously gives
de
11i 13i
b
=
(21 )
dFb kb(12i+13i)+12i13i
and
d'lL 1H
=
(22)
dFb
12i+13i+12i13i/kb
process can also be obtained by the same procedures except the directions of
thr.ead friction on nut threads and base friction on nut bearing surface are
outward . Thus.
deb
11 d
I
3d
=
(23)
dFb
kb(12d+13d)+12d13d
and
d"YL
1
1d
= (24 )
dFb
12d+
1
3d+
1
2d
1
3d/
k
b
r tanet
where
1'd
=
P
1-lJ
t
tanB
1
2d
IJtrp
r
qrd
~
=
'-lJttanB
1 d
0 - (u -u )
r
dFb nr br
p
2xIJ
b
R
f
1 +t/2R 3
p(r/R)
and
13d
= d(r!R)
Fb
1-t!2R 1 d
- - (u )
r dFb nr
As mentioned earlier, the connection losses the c apablll tv of
loosening resistance as the contacting points lying on the outermost circle
on the nut bearing surface are sliding. The relations between bolt-load and
the radial displacements of those contacting points can be given by:
- 41 -
a) for an increasing bolt load process,
Fb = k . u
, ro
(25)
b) for a decreasing bolt load process,
Fb = kdu
ro
(26)
Here : k . = stiffness of the outermost contacting points on nut bearing
l
surface in an increasing bolt load process
kd = stiffness of the outermost contacting points on nut bearing
surface in a decreasing bolt load process
and u = radial displacements of the outermost contacting points on nut
ro
bearing surface.
"Ur:o
Fig.4 The relationship between bolt load and the radial
displacement of the contacting points lytng on the
outermost circle on the nut bearing surface during
a loading cycle
Fig.4 shows the relationship between bolt load and the radial
displacements of the outermost contacting points on nut bearing surface
during a complete cycle of dynamic loading. Bolt loads at points 1 , 2,
- 42 -
...
3, and 4 can be given by
k.
1
F,
c F
kd
P
F2
=
( ,
+ DSR) F
P
(27)
F3
kd
(1 DSR) F =- +
k.
P
1
and
F4
= F
P
where DSR =
Fd/Fp
F = bolt preload
p
and
Fd
= dynamic load.
By considering Fig.4, the loosening occurs from point 1 to point 2
in an increasing bolt load process and point 3 to point 4 in a decrea8ing
bolt load process. The loosening angles can then be found:
a) in an increasing bolt load process,
(28)
b) in a decreasing bolt load process,
(29)
The total loosening angle per cycle is
kd I
1d
+(-(1 +DSR) - ') 1
(30 )
k
i
12d+
I
3d+
I
2d
I
3d/
k
b
.'
- 43 -
3. Numerical Results
A standard one inch nominal size bolt and a cornerless nut with
pitch diameter of 0 . 9188 inch are selected for the numerical test . The
material 1S steel with E=30x10
6
psi and v=0.27.
The parameters to be studied are coefficients of thread and base
frictions, thread pitch, nut wall thickness, nut height, bolt length,
dynamic-static load ratio (DSR), and bolt preload.
4. Conclusions
From the numerical test results, the following conclusions can be
drawn .
1 . The amount of loosening decreases as the thread friction increases.
2. The amount of loosening decreases as the base friction increases .
3 . Fine threads yield less amount of loosening than the coarse threads
do .
4. The amount of loosening decreases as the nut wall thickness increases .
5. The amount of loosening decreases as the nut height increases .
6 . Increasing bolt length will reduce the amount of loosening.
7. The amount of loosening is linearly dependent of the dynamic-static
load ratio (DSR ).
8 . The amount of loosening is linearly dependent of the bolt preload
while fixing the DSR.

- 44 -
1x10-
3
r-----------------------------------------,
!3 y.1O-
4
b/)
w
6>.10-
4
'0
'"
"
~
" w
"
0
4,10-
4
0
.-'l
..
" 2:
L;.: ] O-4
o
o 0.05
\
~ .
"'-.
0.10
Unloading process
Loading process
Total
Bolt length ;0 in.
D3R= 1. 5
F P 1000 Ib
---
0.15 0.20
Fig. 5 Effect of thread friction on nut loosening
lxlO-
3
r - - - - - - - ~ - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - _
'"
W
'0
-6 -I;
1!' :.10
...
"
w
"
o
o
... 4
... 4xlO-
~
o
o
,
----
-----.
0.05 0.10
Unloading prooess
Loading process
Total
Bolt length' a in.
DS;{ 1.5
Fp 1000 1b
o.iS 0.20
Fig.6 Effect of base friction on nut loosening
- 45 -
lX10- 3 r-------__ ------__ ----________________ -.
Unloading process
Loadi ng process
Total
.,
ID
'0
~ 4
t;r6xl O-
"
' n
"
ID
00
o
o
.., -4
....,4xl O
"
z
o
o 1
Bolt length = 0 in.
DSR1.5
Fp 1000 lb
~
-- --
2
3
(l (deg . )
' 4
Fig.7 Effect of heli x angle on nut loosening
lxlO-) r-------__ ----____ ----____ ------____ ~
o
o 10 20
Unloading process
Loading process
Total
Bolt length = 0 in.
DSR = 1.5
Fp 1000 lb
/
/
---1-
./"
)0 40
~ (deg . )
Fig. S Effect of thread angle on nut loosening

- 46 -

Unloading process
'"
"
'" - -4
tlD
6x10
" ."
"
"

a
a
..., -4
+> 4>:10
" z
o
o 050
,
,
,
,
,
'\
1.00
,
,
Loading process
Total
Bolt length = a in.
DSR = 1.5
Fp = 1000 lb
1.50 2.00
H (in.)
Fig.9 Effect of nut height on nut loosening
lxl0-) r------------------------------------,
."
"
'"
2' 6xlO-
4

o
"

a
o
.,
., 4xlO-
4
"
'"
o
,
,
,
Unloading process
Load ing: proces3
Total
DSR 1. 5
Fp = 1000 lb
t---______ - - -- - - - -::-0-=::=_ = ___ =_
--- - ---- ----
--
o 2 4 6 8 10
Bolt Length (in.)
Fig.l0 Effect of bolt length on nut loosening

- 47 -
1x10-
3
~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
""

~ 6;.:10-
4
'"
"
....
"

~
o
~ 4xlO-
4
+'
~
Z
o
o 1
,
,
,
,
...................
. "
"
Unloading process
Loading process
Total
Eolt length = 0 in.
DoH = 1.5
Fp = 1000 lb
-------
--
2
3
Dn (in.)
4
Fig.11 Effect of nut wall thickness on nut loosening
5_ References
1. Harnchoowong, S. (1987),The Distribution of Load on Threaded
Fastenings, KKU Eng. Journal, Vol. 14, No.1, pp. 119-132.
(in Thai)
2. Gambrell, S. G. (1968), Why Bolt Loosen, Machine Design, Vol. 40,
No. 25, pp_ 163-167.
3 . Goodier, ~ . N., and Sweeney, R.J. (1945), Loosening by Vibrations
of Threaded Fastenings, Mech. Eng., Vol. 67, No. 12, pp. 798-802.
4. Sauer, J.A. et al (1950), Bolts--How to Prevent Their Loosening,
Machine Design, Vol. 22, No.8, pp. 133-139.
5. Sweeney, R.J . (1946) , How to Avoid Loosening of Bolts and Nuts.
Machine Design, V o ~ . 18, No.6, pp. 139-144.