CHAPTER THREE

Strength Calculation,
Dimensioning of Joints& Power screw:
 TOPICS

Power Screw (screw joint);

• The fastenings (i.e. joints) may be classified into the following two groups :

1. Permanent fastenings, and

2. Temporary or detachable fastenings

• The permanent fastenings are those fastenings which can not be disassembled without destroying the
connecting components.

• The examples of permanent fastenings in order of strength are soldered, brazed, welded and riveted joints.

• The temporary or detachable fastenings are those fastenings which can be disassembled without
destroying the connecting components.

• The examples of temporary fastenings are screwed, keys, cotters, pins and splined joints
 Power Screw and screw joint
• The power screws (also known as translation screws) are used to convert rotary
motion into translatory motion.

• In some screws, the screw rotates and moves axially against the resisting force
while the nut is stationary and in others the nut rotates while the screw moves
axially with no rotation
• A screw thread is formed by cutting a continuous helical groove on a cylindrical
surface.
• A screw made by cutting a single helical groove on the cylinder is known as
single threaded (or single-start) screw and if a second thread is cut in the space
between the grooves of the first, a double threaded (or double-start) screw is
formed.
 Similarly, triple and quadruple (i.e. multiple-start) threads may be formed. The helical
grooves may be cut either right hand or left hand.
 A screwed joint is mainly composed of two elements i.e. a bolt and nut.
 The screwed joints are widely used where the machine parts are required to be readily
connected or disconnected without damage to the machine or the fastening.
 This may be for the purpose of holding or adjustment in assembly or service inspection,
repair, or replacement or it may be for the manufacturing or assembly reasons.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Screwed Joints
Advantages
1. Screwed joints are highly reliable in operation.
2. Screwed joints are convenient to assemble and disassemble.
3. A wide range of screwed joints may be adopted to various operating conditions.
4. Screws are relatively cheap to produce due to standardization and highly efficient
manufacturing processes.
Disadvantages
 The main disadvantage of the screwed joints is the stress concentration in the threaded
portions which are vulnerable points under variable load conditions.
Important Terms Used in Screw Threads
1. Major diameter. It is the largest diameter of an external or internal screw thread. The
screw is specified by this diameter. It is also known as outside or nominal diameter.
2. Minor diameter. It is the smallest diameter of an external or internal screw thread. It is
also known as core or root diameter.
3. Pitch diameter. It is the diameter of an imaginary cylinder, on a cylindrical screw
thread, the surface of which would pass through the thread at such points as to make equal
the width of the thread and the width of the spaces between the threads.
It is also called an effective diameter. In a nut and bolt assembly, it is the diameter at
which the ridges on the bolt are in complete touch with the ridges of the corresponding nut
 Forms of Screw Threads
The following are the various forms of screw threads
Square thread.
 The square threads, because of their high efficiency, are widely used for transmission of
power in either direction.
 Such type of threads are usually found on the feed mechanisms of machine
tools,valves, spindles, screw jacks etc.
 The square threads are not so strong as V-threads but they offer less frictional resistance
to motion than Whitworth threads
 Acme thread.
 It is a modification of square thread.
 It is much stronger than square thread and can be easily produced. These threads are
frequently used on screw cutting lathes, brass valves, cocks and bench vices.
 When used in conjunction with a split nut, as on the lead screw of a lathe, the tapered
sides of the thread facilitate ready engagement and disengagement of the halves of the
nut when required.
 Buttress thread.
 It is used for transmission of power in one direction only.
 The force is transmitted almost parallel to the axis.
 This thread units the advantage of both square and V-threads.
 It has a low frictional resistance characteristics of the square thread and have the
same strength as that of V-thread.
 The spindles of bench vices are usually provided with buttress thread
 Common Types of Screw Fastenings

1. Through bolts. A through bolt (or simply a bolt) is shown in Fig below.
• It is a cylindrical bar with threads for the nut at one end and head at the other end.
The cylindrical part of the bolt is known as shank.

2. Tap bolts. A tap bolt or screw differs from a bolt. It is screwed into a tapped hole of one
of the parts to be fastened without the nut,.
3. Studs. A stud is a round bar threaded at both ends. One end of the stud is screwed into a
tapped hole of the parts to be fastened, while the other end receives a nut on it
4. Cap screws. The cap screws are similar to tap bolts except that they are of small size
and a variety of shapes of heads are available
5. Machine screws. These are similar to cap screws with the head slotted for a screw driver.
These are generally used with a nut.
6. Set screws. These are used to prevent relative motion between the two parts.
 Locking Devices
• Ordinary thread fastenings, generally, remain tight under static loads, but many of these
fastenings become loose under the action of variable loads or when machine is subjected
to vibrations.
• The loosening of fastening is very dangerous and must be prevented. In order to prevent
this, a large number of locking devices are available
Jam nut or lock nut
 A most common locking device is a jam, lock or check nut. It has about one-half to two-
third thickness of the standard nut.
 The thin lock nut is first tightened down with ordinary force, and then the upper nut (i.e.
thicker nut) is tightened down upon it,
2. Castle nut. It consists of a hexagonal portion with a cylindrical upper part which is slotted
in line with the centre of each face,.
• The split pin passes through two slots in the nut and a hole in the bolt, so that a positive
lock is obtained unless the pin shears.
• It is extensively used on jobs subjected to sudden shocks and considerable vibration such
as in automobile industry.
3. Sawn nut. It has a slot sawed about half way through,.
• After the nut is screwed down, the small screw is tightened which produces more friction
between the nut and the bolt. This prevents the loosening of nut.
4. Penn, ring or grooved nut. It has a upper portion hexagonal and a lower part
cylindrical.
• It is largely used where bolts pass through connected pieces reasonably near their edges
such as in marine type connecting rod ends.
• The bottom portion is cylindrical and is recessed to receive the tip of the locking set
screw.
• The bolt hole requires counter-boring to receive the cylindrical portion of the nut.
• In order to prevent bruising of the latter by the case hardened tip of the set screw, it is
recessed.
5. Locking with pin. The nuts may be locked by means of a taper pin or cotter pin passing
through the middle of the nut
6. Locking with plate. The nut can be adjusted and subsequently locked through angular
intervals of 30° by using these plates
 7. Spring lock washer. As the nut tightens the washer against the piece below, one edge
of the washer is caused to dig itself into that piece, thus increasing the resistance so that
the nut will not loosen so easily
Designation of Screw Threads
1. Size designation. The size of the screw thread is designated by the letter `M' followed
by the diameter and pitch, the two being separated by the sign ×. When there is no
indication of the pitch, it shall mean that a coarse pitch is implied.
2. Tolerance designation. This shall include
(a) A figure designating tolerance grade as indicated below: ‘7’ for fine grade, ‘8’ for
normal (medium) grade, and ‘9’ for coarse grade.
(b) A letter designating the tolerance position as indicated below : ‘H’ for unit thread, ‘d’
for bolt thread with allowance, and ‘h’ for bolt thread without allowance.
For example, A bolt thread of 6 mm size of coarse pitch and with allowance on the threads
and normal (medium) tolerance grade is designated as M6-8d.
 Stresses in Screwed Fastening due to Static Loading
• The following stresses in screwed fastening due to static loading are important from the
subject point of view :
1. Internal stresses due to screwing up forces,
2. Stresses due to external forces, and
3. Stress due to combination of stresses at (1) and (2).
2. Shear stress. Sometimes, the bolts are used to prevent the relative movement of two or
more parts, as in case of flange coupling, then the shear stress is induced in the bolts

3. Combined tension and shear stress. When the bolt is subjected to both tension and shear
loads, as in case of coupling bolts or bearing, then the diameter of the shank of the bolt is
obtained from the shear load and that of threaded part from the tensile load
 Stress due to Combined Forces

The resultant axial load on a bolt depends upon the following factors :
1. The initial tension due to tightening of the bolt,
2. The extenal load, and
3. The relative elastic yielding (springiness) of the bolt and the connected members
 In order to determine the resultant axial load (P) on the bolt, the following equation
may be used :
 Riveted Joints

Introduction
 A rivet is a short cylindrical bar with a head integral to it.
 The cylindrical portion of the rivet is called shank or body and lower portion of shank is
known as tail.
 The rivets are used to make permanent fastening between the plates such as in structural
work, ship building, bridges, tanks and boiler shells.
 Methods of Riveting
 The function of rivets in a joint is to make a connection that has strength and tightness.
 The strength is necessary to prevent failure of the joint.
 The tightness is necessary in order to contribute to strength and to prevent leakage as in a
boiler or in a ship hull.
 When two plates are to be fastened together by a rivet as shown in Fig (a), the holes in the
plates are punched and reamed or drilled.
 Punching is the cheapest method and is used for relatively thin plates and in structural
work
 Types of Riveted Joints
Following are the two types of riveted joints, depending upon the way in which the plates
are connected.
1. Lap Joint
• A lap joint is that in which one plate overlaps the other and the two plates are then riveted
together.
2. Butt Joint
• A butt joint is that in which the main plates are kept in alignment butting (i.e. touching)
each other and a cover plate (i.e. strap) is placed either on one side or on both sides of the
main plates.
• The cover plate is then riveted together with the main plates.
Butt joints are of the following two types :
Single strap butt joint, and Double strap butt joint.
• In a single strap butt joint, the edges of the main plates butt against each other and only one cover
plate is placed on one side of the main plates and then riveted together.
• In a double strap butt joint, the edges of the main plates butt against each other and two cover
plates are placed on both sides of the main plates and then riveted together.
 In addition to the above, following are the types of riveted joints depending upon the number of
rows of the rivets.
Single riveted joint, and Double riveted joint.
• A single riveted joint is that in which there is a single row of rivets in a lap joint and there is a
single row of rivets on each side in a butt joint.
• A double riveted joint is that in which there are two rows of rivets in a lap joint and there are two
rows of rivets on each side in a butt joint.
Similarly the joints may be triple riveted or quadruple riveted.
 Notes : 1. When the rivets in the various rows are opposite to each other, then the joint is
said to be chain riveted.
 On the other hand, if the rivets in the adjacent rows are staggered in such a way that every
rivet is in the middle of the two rivets of the opposite row, then the joint is said to be zig-
zag riveted.
 Important Terms Used in Riveted Joints
The following terms in connection with the riveted joints are important from the subject
point of view :
1. Pitch. It is the distance from the centre of one rivet to the centre of the next rivet
measured parallel to the seam. It is usually denoted by p.
2. Back pitch. It is the perpendicular distance between the centre lines of the successive
rows. It is usually denoted by pb.
3. Diagonal pitch. It is the distance between the centres of the rivets in adjacent rows of
zig-zag riveted joint. It is usually denoted by pd.
4. Margin or marginal pitch. It is the distance between the centre of rivet hole to the
nearest edge of the place. It is usually denoted by m.
 Caulking and Fullering
• In order to make the joints leak proof or fluid tight in pressure vessels like steam
boilers, air receivers and tanks etc. a process known as caulking
• A more satisfactory way of making the joints staunch is known as fullering which
has largely superseded caulking.
 Failures of a Riveted Joint
A riveted joint may fail in the following ways :
1. Tearing of the plate at an edge. A joint may fail due to tearing of the plate at an edge
as shown in Fig below. This can be avoided by keeping the margin, m = 1.5d, where d is
the diameter of the rivet hole.