Constraining bolts to their pre-loaded lengths (Abaqus)

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.

Note:

You must include a Bolt Pre-Load Constraint in all steps in which you want to maintain the length of the bolt at the pre-loaded length.

Selected entities must be consistent

When you create a Bolt Pre-Load Constraint, you must ensure that the entities to which you apply the constraint are the same entities to which you applied the pre-load. This ensures that when you solve the model, the same pre-tension node is associated with both the bolt pre-load and the bolt pre-load constraint.

• For the Pre-load constraint on 1D elements type, the geometry, elements, or group to which you apply the constraint should be the same as the geometry, elements, or group to which you applied the Bolt Pre-Load. This ensures that the same pre-tension node is associated with both the pre-load and the constraint.

• For the Pre-load constraint on 3D elements type, the Region to which you apply the constraint should be the same as theRegion to which you applied the Bolt Pre-Load. This ensures that the same pre-tension node is associated with both the pre-load and the constraint.

Example: Constraining a pre-loaded bolt

For example, consider a solution that consists of four steps:

• In step 1, you use the Bolt Pre-Load command to apply a force to selected elements.

• In step 2, you remove the Bolt Pre-Load from the step and use the Bolt Pre-Load Constraint command to fix the length of the bolt to the length calculated in step 1.

• In steps 3 and 4, you use the Bolt Pre-Load Constraint command to maintain the length of the bolt at the length calculated in step 1.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	An active Simulation file with Abaqus as the specified solver and Structural as the specified analysis type
Command Finder	Bolt Pre-Load Constraint
Simulation Navigator	Under the active solution, right-click Constraints→New Constraint→Bolt Pre-Load Constraint

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)

Bolt pre-loads with 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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Constraining bolts to their pre-loaded lengths (Abaqus), Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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