Bolt pre-loads with Abaqus

If you are working with the Abaqus solver, you can use the Bolt Pre-Load command to apply a load to a bolt (or fastener) modeled with:

• B31 type beam elements

• Solid (continuum) elements

Note:

Note: You can only use the Bolt Pre-Load command in non-axisymmetric type analyses.

Loading options depend on element type

The type of pre-load you can apply to the bolt depends upon the element type with which the bolt is modeled.

• If you model the bolt with a beam element, you can apply either a pre-tension load or a tightening (length) adjustment.

• If you model the bolt with solid elements, you can apply a pre-tension load.

You can use a field to define a force or tightening adjustment that varies with time for both 1D and 3D bolts. If you use a field, the software writes out a both *CLOAD and an *AMPLITUDE keyword when you export or solve the solution.

Pre-loads applied across pre-tension sections

With Abaqus, you apply bolt pre-loads to your model across defined pre-tension sections. In Abaqus, a pre-tension section (specified with the *PRE-TENSION SECTION keyword in an Abaqus input file) defines the portion of the model across which the software applies the pre-load. The process for defining a bolt pre-load varies depending upon the type of element you use to model the bolt.

• For a bolt modeled with a beam element, the pre-tension section is comprised of the element that defines the shank of the bolt and a pre-tension node. For more information, see Pre-loaded bolts modeled with beam elements (Abaqus).

• For a bolt modeled with solid elements, the pre-tension section is comprised of an element-based surface inside the bolt that divides the bolt into two parts and a pre-tension node. For more information, see Pre-loaded bolts modeled with solid elements (Abaqus)

For more information on pre-tension sections, see the Prescribed assembly loads topic in the Abaqus Analysis User's Manual or the *PRE-TENSION SECTION topic in the Abaqus Keywords Reference Manual.

Constraining a pre-loaded bolt in subsequent analysis steps

After you use the Bolt Pre-Load command to apply an initial load to a bolt or fastener, you can use the Bolt Pre-Load Constraint command to fix the length of the bolt in subsequent analysis steps. The Bolt Pre-Load Constraint command constrains the length of the bolt to its current pre-loaded (deformed) length.

For more information, see Constraining bolts to their pre-loaded lengths (Abaqus).

How do I

Define a bolt pre-load for a bolt modeled with beam elements (Abaqus)

Define a bolt pre-load (ANSYS)

Learn more

Bolt pre-load

Bolt pre-loads with Simcenter Nastran and Simcenter 3D Multiphysics

Pre-loaded bolts modeled with beam elements (Nastran)

Pre-loaded bolts modeled with solid elements (Nastran)

Constraining bolts to their pre-loaded lengths (Abaqus)

Pre-loaded bolts modeled with solid elements (Abaqus)

Pre-loaded bolts modeled with beam elements (Abaqus)

Bolt pre-loads with ANSYS

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