Diameter of bolt pitch circle Formula:
Definition: The diameter of the circle that passes through the center of all bolts in a circular bolt pattern.
Purpose: It's a critical measurement in mechanical engineering for designing bolted joints that resist torque.
The calculator uses the formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the required pitch circle diameter based on the torque capacity of a single bolt and its material properties.
Details: Proper calculation ensures bolted joints can withstand applied torques without failure, while optimizing material usage and joint size.
Tips: Enter the torque resisted by one bolt, shear stress in the bolt material, bolt diameter, and optional tolerance percentage. All values must be > 0.
Q1: What is the tolerance percentage for?
A: It allows for design margin (±5%) to account for manufacturing variations or safety factors.
Q2: How do I determine the shear stress in the bolt?
A: This is typically a material property from specifications (e.g., 140 MPa for Grade 8.8 bolts).
Q3: Can I use this for non-circular bolt patterns?
A: No, this calculator is specifically for circular bolt patterns. Other patterns require different calculations.
Q4: What if I have multiple bolts resisting torque?
A: Divide the total torque by the number of bolts to get the torque per bolt for this calculation.
Q5: Does this account for preload in the bolts?
A: No, this is a simplified calculation. For precise designs, consider bolt preload and joint stiffness.