REFRESHER

AIRCRAFT MATERIALS
PROCESSES AND
HARDWARE
How are aircraft components and
materials joined together ?
 NEED
- Different types of fastening devices, used on aircraft, vary in
accordance with the materials, which require joining, and the
importance of the joined components, or structures, to the safety of
the aircraft.

- The environment in which the joint must operate and the frequency
and ease with which the joint may need to be disassembled, for
inspection, replacement or repair, will also influence the choice of
fasteners to be employed.
OBJECTIVES
 To know the different types of aircraft fasteners.
 To know how to read AN standard bolts
SCOPE
Aircraft Fasteners
• Temporary Joints • Screw Threads
• Permanent Joints • Screw Thread Terminology
• Flexible Joints • Bolts
 AIRCRAFT FASTENERS
- Fasteners, or fastening devices, are used to create secure joints
between two or more components.

- Only those fastening devices approved by that aircraft’s

maintenance manual are allowed to be used, as substitution with
incorrect parts can cause fatal consequences.

- Fasteners may be metallic or non-metallic (or composites of both

types). They may be flexible or rigid (or a combination of both) and
may be used to form the three basic categories of joints.
3 Basic category of Joint:
1. Temporary Joint
• are used where the joint can be disassembled
without damage and where, usually, the same
fastener can be used to reassemble the joint.
• Bolts and nuts, circlips and quick-release
fasteners are, typically, used in temporary joints.

2. Permanent Joints
○ are those which are not intended to be
disassembled on a frequent basis (if at all), and
are joints where either the fastening medium or
the joined components will suffer damage in
their separation.
○ Adhesives, rivets and welds are examples of
uses of permanent joints.
3 Basic category of Joint:
3. Flexible Joints
○ allow movement of the joined components relative to each other.
○ Anti-vibration mounts, universal couplings and hinges are devices which
may be employed in flexible joints.
 Whatever fasteners are used, to make a particular joint, it
must be ensured that only the approved materials are utilized and
that their legality is confirmed. This can be done by reference to
published Part Numbers, which are to be found in:
• Aircraft Maintenance Manuals,
• Wiring Diagrams,
• Structural Repair Manuals,
• Illustrated Parts Catalogues
• Other Approved Publications
 AIRCRAFT FASTENERS
Screw threads
- Threaded fasteners allow parts to be fastened together with all
of the strength that unthreaded fasteners provide.

Common International Thread Standards

International Standard Common Abbreviation
American National Coarse ANC
American National Fine ANF
Unified Coarse UNC
Unified Fine UNF
British Association BA
British Standard Fine BSF
 AIRCRAFT FASTENERS
Screw Thread Terminology
 There are two basic types of screw thread fastener:
1. Bolt - is considered to have a plain shank portion in addition to a threaded
section.
2. Screw - has threads running the full length of the shank with no plain portion.

* There are exceptions to this general statement, as shown by American AN

structural screws having a plain shank.
* As there are variations with screw thread terminology, the correct way of
describing a threaded fastener is to use the correct terminology, found in the relevant
aircraft Illustrated Parts Catalogue when ordering replacement items.
BOLTS

SCREW
Screw Thread Terminology
 Single Start Thread: Term used when there is only one screw thread (helix)
cut in the material

 Multi-Start Thread: Consists of two or more separate, parallel threads cut

into the material carrying the thread. This method is used in order to achieve
a quick-acting motion between two threaded items

 Runout: The part of the thread where the minor diameter increases until it
equals the major diameter and merges with the plain portion of the shank.
The runout cannot be used and any nut rotated onto the runout, would
become ‘thread-bound’
 A standard rule can be used to measure
existing bolts.
 AN Bolts – Measuring
 Bolt Gauges are an easy and
accurate way to measure an
existing bolt.
AN Bolts - Measuring
AIRCRAFT FASTENERS
Bolts
- used in the construction of aerospace components and structures, have
evolved into a large range of materials, shapes and sizes, all of which are
dictated by the applications for which the items have been designed.

- Standards and systems have been established, to provide identification of the

many different forms of threaded devices, in order to ensure that only the
correct items are installed in the relevant locations.

- It is stressed here, that only the approved design materials may be used for
aerospace components. While a selection of some of the bolts are presented
in these course notes, by way of introduction, the relevant AMM, SRM and IPC
will be the sole authority for deciding the correct type of bolt that is to be used
in a particular application.
AIRCRAFT FASTENERS
Most bolts used on aircraft are:
 General-purpose
 Internal-wrenching
 Close-tolerance

Standard Aircraft Bolts

 High-strength type 4037 or 8740
alloy steel.
 Cadmium plated for corrosion
resistance.
 Minimum tensile strength 125,000
PSI.
 Only specific bolt head markings
allowed.
 CHECK
 What bolts are mostly used on aircraft:
 General-purpose
 Internal-wrenching
 Close-tolerance
 Hexagon Internal Wrenching Internal Wrenching Drilled
Drilled (1 Hole)

Hexagon Slotted 100° Countersunk

Cylindrical Hexagon Wrenching
(Cross Recess)

Pan, Cross Recess Hexagon 12 Point Extended Washer

Drilled (6 Hole)

Examples of Aircraft Bolts

Fig 8
Aircraft Bolt Identification
 Bolts are identified by markings on the bolt heads.
 Denote the materials of which the bolt is made.
 Standard vs. special-purpose bolts.
 Sometimes includes the manufacture.
 Usually a ‘*’ or an ‘X’

 Challenges
 Keep your bolts separated to avoid confusion.
 Know your sources.
 Not always easy to remember the various markings.
 Need a chart to know the various markings.
Identification of AN Standard Bolts
For identification purposes the AN number is used to indicate the type of bolt and its
diameter. In addition a code is used to indicate the material, length and presence of a split
pin or locking wire hole as follows:
 Diameter:
 The last figure or last two figures, of the AN number indicates thread diameter, 1 = No.
6, 2 = No.8, 3 = No.10, and 4 = ¼” with subsequent numbers indicating the diameter
in 1/16” increments.
 Thus an AN4 is a hexagon headed bolt of ¼” diameter and an AN14 is a hexagon
headed bolt of 7/8” (14/16”) diameter.

 Lengths:
 The length of a bolt, in the case of a hexagonal headed bolt, is measured from under
the head of the first full thread and is quoted in 1/8”increments as a dash number.
 The last figure of the dash number represents eighths and the first figure inches, so
that an AN4 – 12 is a ¼” diameter hexagon headed bolt, 1¼” long.
 X

Steel Steel Close Corrosion Resistant

Corrosion Resistant Steel
Tolerance Steel (Close Tolerance)

Aluminium Drilled Head, Multi-Drilled Aluminium Alloy,

Single Hole Head Close Tolerance

AN Bolt Head Markings

Fig 9
Position of Drilled Hole: Bolts are normally supplied
with a hole drilled in the threaded part of the shank, but
different arrangements may be obtained:

Drilled shank - normal coding AN24 – 15

 Un-drilled shank - an A added after dash No.
AN24 – 15A

Drilled head only - an H added before the dash

number and replacing it and an A added after the
dash number
AN25H15A
Drilled head and shank – an H
added before dash No
AN25H15
AN4 – 12 is a

•¼” diameter

•hexagon headed bolt,

•1¼” long
Material: The standard coding applies to a non-corrosion-resistant, cadmium-plated steel bolt.
Where the bolt is supplied in other materials, letters are placed after the AN number as follows:

C - Corrosion Resistance Steel (CRS) AN25C15

DD - Aluminium Alloy
AN25DD15
Thread: When the bolt is supplied as either UNF or UNC threads, a UNC thread is indicated by
placing an A in place of the dash
AN24A15
EXERCISES
Special-to-Type Bolts
 The hexagon headed aircraft bolt AN3 – AN20, is an all purpose structural bolt used for
applications involving tension or shear loads where a light drive fit is permissible.
Special-to-Type Bolts
 Alloy steel bolts, smaller than 3/16” diameter, and aluminium alloy
bolts smaller than ¼” are not used on primary structure. Other bolts
may be used as follows:
 Close Tolerance Bolts are machined more accurately than the
standard bolt. They may be hexagon headed (AN173 – AN186) or
have a 100º countersunk head(NAS80 – NAS86). They are used
in applications where a tight drive fit is required the bolt requires
the use of a hammer to drive it into position
Special-to-Type Bolts
 Internal Wrenching Bolts (MS 20024 or NAS 495) are fabricated from high-
strength steel and are suitable for tensile or shear applications. The head is
recessed to allow the insertion of a hexagonal key used for installing or
removing the bolt. In Dural-type material, a heat-treated washer must be
used to provide an adequate bearing surface for the head.
Special-to-Type Bolts
 Clevis Bolt heads are either round or slotted, for a standard
screwdriver, or recessed, for a cross-pointed screwdriver. This
type of bolt is used only for shear loads and never in tension. It is
often inserted as a mechanical pin in a control system.
Special-to-Type Bolts
 Eyebolt is designed for the attachment of cable shackles or turnbuckles and the
bolt is used for tensile loads. The threaded end may be drilled for wire locking.
Special-to-Type Bolts
-The hexagon headed aircraft bolt AN3 –
AN20 (refer to Fig.10), is an all purpose structural
bolt used for applications involving tension or
shear loads where a light drive fit is permissible.

Hexagonal Head Clevis Bolt

Eye Bolt

Countersunk Head Internal Wrenching

Special-to-Type Bolts

Fig 10
Metric Bolts
The identification of a Metric bolt is by the use of the diameter in
millimetres, immediately after the capital letter ‘M’. In this way, M6
represents a 6 mm diameter bolt. The length is also shown in millimetres,
so the bolt M6 -15 will be a 6 mm diameter bolt, which is 15 mm long.
The basic terminology, for identifying bolts of the Metric system, involves
the nominal length, the grip length and diameter.
 CHECK
What are identified by the use of an alpha-numeric code, which provides information relating to the type, material,
surface finish, length, diameter and other important characteristics of the threaded device?
 British Standard Unified (BS Unified) bolts

What is used to indicate the type of bolt and its diameter. In addition a code is used to indicate the material, length
and presence of a split pin or locking wire hole
 AN standard bolts

AN Standard Bolt reading

 AN24A15
 AN25C15
 AN25DD15
 AN24 – 15
 AN24 – 15A
 AN25H15A
 AN25H15

What are the different types of Special-to-type bolts?

 Close tolerance bolts
 Internal Wrenching bolts
 Clevis bolt heads
 Eyebolt
SUMMARY
 We now know what fasteners are
 We now know the difference between bolts and nuts
 We now know how to read AN standard bolts
ANY QUESTIONS?
OBJECTIVES
 To know the different types of aircraft fasteners.
 To know how to read AN standard bolts
KEY POINTS
 Fasteners
 An standard bolt reading
LINK FORWARD
 Fasteners contd.
ANY QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU!!!