Lesson 6: Flanged Bolt Couplings

In shaft connection called flanged bolt couplings (see

figure below), the torque is transmitted by the shearing
force 𝑃 created in he bolts that is assumed to be uniformly
distributed. For any number of bolts 𝑛, the torque
capacity of the coupling is
𝜋𝑑2
𝑇 = 𝑛𝑃𝑅 = 𝑛 𝜏𝑅
4
𝜋𝑑2
𝑃 = 𝐴𝜏 = 𝜏
4
If a coupling has two concentric rows of bolts, the torque
capacity is
𝑇 = 𝑃1 𝑅1 𝑛1 + 𝑃2 𝑅2 𝑛2
where the subscript 1 refer to bolts on the outer circle an
subscript 2 refer to bolts on the inner circle.
For rigid flanges, the shear deformations in the bolts are
proportional to their radial distances from the shaft axis.
The shearing strains are related by
𝛾1 𝛾2
=
𝑅1 𝑅2
Using Hooke’s law for shear, 𝐺 = 𝜏 / 𝛾, we have
𝜏1 𝜏2 𝑃1 /𝐴1 𝑃2 /𝐴2
= or =
𝐺1 𝑅1 𝐺2 𝑅2 𝐺1 𝑅1 𝐺2 𝑅2
If the bolts on the two circles have the same area, 𝐴1 =
𝐴2, and if the bolts are made of the same material, 𝐺1 =
𝐺2, the relation between 𝑃1 and 𝑃2 reduces to
𝑃1 𝑃2
=
𝑅1 𝑅2
Examples:

1. A flanged bolt coupling consists of ten 20 − 𝑚𝑚

diameter bolts spaced evenly around a bolt circle
400 𝑚𝑚 in diameter. Determine the torque capacity of
the coupling if the allowable shearing stress in the
bolts is 40 𝑀𝑃𝑎.

Ans. 25.13 𝑘𝑁 ∙ 𝑚
2. A flanged bolt coupling consists of eight 10 − 𝑚𝑚
diameter steel bolts on a bolt circle 400 𝑚𝑚 in diameter,
and six 10 − 𝑚𝑚 diameter steel bolts on a concentric
bolt circle 300 𝑚𝑚 in diameter, as shown. What torque
can be applied without exceeding a shearing stress of
60 𝑀𝑃𝑎 in the bolts?

Ans. 10.72 𝑘𝑁 ∙ 𝑚
3. The plate shown below is fastened to the fixed
member by five 10 − 𝑚𝑚 diameter rivets. Compute
the value of the loads 𝑃 so that the average shearing
stress in any rivet does not exceed 70 𝑀𝑃𝑎.

Ans. 6777 𝑁
Exercise 6:

1. A flanged bolt coupling consists of ten steel 12 − 𝑚𝑚

diameter bolts spaced evenly around a bolt circle
350 𝑚𝑚 in diameter. Determine the torque capacity
of the coupling if the allowable shearing stress in the
bolts is 40 𝑀𝑃𝑎.
2. Determine the number of 10 − 𝑚𝑚 diameter steel
bolts that must be used on the 400 𝑚𝑚 bolt circle of
the coupling described in Example 2 to increase the
torque capacity to 14 𝑘𝑁 · 𝑚.
3. A plate is fastened to a fixed member by four 20 −
𝑚𝑚 diameter rivets arranged as shown. Compute
the maximum and minimum shearing stress
developed.
4. Six 22-mm diameter rivets fasten the plate to the fixed
member as shown. Determine the average shearing
stress caused in each rivet by the 60 𝑘𝑁 loads. What
additional loads 𝑃 can be applied before the shearing
stress in any rivet exceeds 40 𝑀𝑃𝑎?

60 𝑘𝑁

250 𝑚𝑚
100 𝑚𝑚
75 𝑚𝑚 75 𝑚𝑚

60 𝑘𝑁