Example: Tube Connection with prestressed bolts contact analysis

Tube Connection

Problem definition
Tube Steel

500 kN
0.01 m

E=2.0E11 Pa
n=0.33

Bolt Steel E=2.0E11 sultimate=800 MPa syield=0.8*800 MPa Prestress 0.06 m 80 % of yield stress Dimension M24

0.12 m 0.36 m

Tube Connection
Two step analysis due to symmetry in load and geometry only 1/16 is modeled Only prestress
Distributed external tube force:
Fy Ftube Atube

Prestress and external load

Distributed force from prestressed bolt + force from extension of bolt:
Fy 0.8 0.8 s ultimate Abolt K bolt (v vini ) Awasher

Distributed force from prestressed bolt : symmetry

Fy 0.8 0.8 s ultimate Abolt Awasher

symmetry

Contact boundary, nonlinear spring:

Contact boundary, nonlinear spring:

Tube Connection

Interesting results
Boltstress as a function of external force in the tube von Mises stress plot at 500 kN external force

Tube Connection

Results