Abstract
Keywords:
Torque, Bolt tension load, Mode test, Simulation test
Abstract
The automotive industries are among the biggest users of bolts. It is therefore of importance that bolted connections can be designed and installed to provide the required service quality for the various exposure and service conditions. As many reports, bolting failure must be problems and can be for a number of reasons such as overload, fatigue or corrosion. The materials selection and manufacturing, bolt fabrication, applied protective coating and the final bolt installation are all factors which need to executed adequately to ensure that a long service performance and quality. The actual service conditions and the external environment impact and maintenance will determine the quality of the bolting. To improve the reliability of bolted connections, it needs to be verified and evaluated. To verify and evaluate, it’s not easy to investigate the actual state directly in actual service conditions. Thus, actual test called mode test and simulation test is performed in a lab. It is performed vastly as being easy, economical, repeatable and continuative. In this paper, it is to evaluate and verify bolted connections for transducing torque and clamping force to bolt tension load between Crossmember and Control Arm, which are parts of vehicle. The bolt tension load is monitored using strain gauges. Various conditions using washers, pipes and bracket are tested and performed. The paper will be to provide a summary of the best practice for transducing torque and clamping force to bolt tension load of bolted connections. The test is performed in a lab of GMDAT Technical Center.