Bolt Shear & Tension Calculator
Determine the required bolt size and number for structural connections
Calculator
Enter the connection parameters below to calculate bolt shear and tension capacities and required number of bolts.
About the Bolt Shear & Tension Calculator
The Bolt Shear & Tension Calculator helps engineers, designers, and students determine the required bolt size and number for structural connections under combined shear and tension loads. By entering applied loads, bolt diameter, material strength, and factor of safety, the calculator provides bolt capacities and estimates the minimum number of bolts required for a safe connection.
What You Can Calculate
- Bolt Shear Capacity (Vbolt): Maximum shear load a single bolt can resist.
- Bolt Tension Capacity (Tbolt): Maximum axial tensile load a single bolt can resist.
- Bolt Cross-Section Area (A): Derived from the bolt diameter to calculate load capacity.
- Required Number of Bolts: Minimum number of bolts required for safe connection under combined loads.
Formulas Used in the Calculator
- Shear capacity per bolt: Vbolt = 0.6 × σu × A
- Tension capacity per bolt: Tbolt = σu × A
- Required number of bolts: n = max(V / Vbolt, T / Tbolt) × FS
- Bolt cross-sectional area: A = π × d² / 4, where d is bolt diameter.
Where:
- V = Applied shear load (N)
- T = Applied tension load (N)
- σu = Bolt material ultimate strength (Pa)
- A = Bolt cross-sectional area (m²)
- FS = Factor of safety (dimensionless)
- d = Bolt diameter (m or mm as converted)
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter the applied shear load (V) and tension load (T) on the connection.
- Specify the bolt diameter and select the appropriate unit (mm or inches).
- Enter the bolt material ultimate strength (σu) and select the unit (Pa or MPa).
- Set a factor of safety (FS) for the design.
- The calculator will display the bolt cross-sectional area, shear and tension capacities per bolt, and the required number of bolts.
- Adjust input values as needed to explore different connection requirements or materials.
Applications of Bolt Shear & Tension Analysis
- Structural Connections: Design and verify bolted joints for beams, columns, frames, and trusses.
- Construction & Engineering: Ensure fasteners meet load requirements and comply with safety standards.
- Mechanical Components: Determine proper bolt selection in machinery and equipment under combined loads.
- Educational Use: Learn principles of bolt design, shear, and tension calculations for engineering studies.
- Safety Verification: Compare calculated capacities against applied loads to ensure safe design.