How do I determine the yield and tensile strength of a specific diameter of bolt?
In most cases, the strength of a given material used to make a fastener has strength requirements or parameters described as pounds per square inch (psi) or thousands of pounds per square inch (ksi). This is helpful when analyzing what grade of material should be used for a given application, but this doesn’t tell us the actual strength of that diameter of material. In order to calculate the actual strength values of a given diameter, you would use the following formulas:
Note: the formulas below do not depend on the finish of the fastener.
Yield Strength
Take the minimum yield in psi of the ASTM grade (see our Strength Requirements by Grade Chart for this value), multiplied by the stress area of the specific diameter (see our Thread Pitch Chart). This formula will give you the ultimate yield strength of that size and grade of bolt.
Example: What is the ultimate yield strength of a 3/4″ diameter F1554 Grade 36 rod?
This is the minimum requirement for F1554 grade 36. In other words, a 3/4″ diameter F1554 grade 36 anchor rod will be able to withstand 12,024 pounds force (lbf) without yielding.
Ultimate Tensile Strength
Take the minimum tensile strength in psi of the ASTM grade, multiplied by the stress area of the diameter. This formula will give you the ultimate tensile strength of that size and grade of bolt.
Example: What is the ultimate tensile strength of a 3/4″ diameter F1554 Grade 36 rod?
This is the minimum requirement for F1554 grade 36. In other words, a 3/4″ diameter F1554 grade 36 anchor rod will be able to withstand 19,372 pounds force (lbf) without breaking.
Shear Strength
First, find the ultimate tensile strength using the formula above. Take that value and multiply it by 60% (0.60). It is important to understand that this value is only an estimate. Unlike tensile and yield strengths, there are no published shear strength values or requirements for ASTM specifications. The Industrial Fastener Institute (Inch Fastener Standards, 7th ed. 2003. B-8) states that shear strength is approximately 60% of the minimum tensile strength. For more information, please see our FAQ on bolt shear strength considerations.
The tensile value of bolts in the example above, and I believe, also in the strength requirements table, are given in ultimate, i.e. ultimate tensile strength of 19 kips. Is this correct?
We need to divide ultimate values by a Factor of Safety (FoS) to get the allowable tensile values. What FoS do we use? I have seen literature that suggests a FoS of 8.5, although in engineering, FoSs of 2 – 5 are more common. Could you please advise what is the FoS for high-strength bolts, e.g. A325?
@Dan- You are correct, 19kips. As for your factor of safety question, you are correct that they vary a little based on application. The AISC publishes “Available Tensile” values for A325 and other structural bolts and uses two factors, 2.0 for ASD and 0.75 for LRFD.
I just want to know that is 30 mm mild steel hook lift the 10 mt zinc mould.
@Awadhesh – Apologies, but we are unable to make engineering recommendations.
I cannot tell you . too many unknowns; 1. soundness of the tree, quality of the wood. 2. design of the tree stand i.e. how far is it cantilevered from the tree? 3. where is the lag bolt relative to the pivot point of the cantilever? 4. how large was the pilot hole for the lag bolt? and probably a few more I haven’t thought of .
Hello.
I wanted to know that for Tensile Strength Testing, what is the minimum length of the bolt that can be used?
Is it possible to test on a 25 or 30mm long Bolt, or we need a minimum length of 190-200 mm?
Thanks, in advance.
@Hiren- the minimum test sample length will be determined by the type of testing equipment available. There are specialized machines that are able to test very small pieces, and others like ours that require a minimum of about 6 inches/150mm.
Hi
I would like to have stainless grades and their properties table. Is there any website of PDF ?
Thank
@KL- We do not have a pdf available, but we do have many grades with their respective properties on our Strength Requirements By Grade page. https://www.portlandbolt.com/technical/strength-requirements-by-grade/
I just want to know that how i calculate the strength of 12 mm hexagon bolts, for example, in one rack 08 bolts of 12 mm hold the rack, than how much weight capacity of the rack.
@Mehmood- If you know the tensile strength of your fasteners, you can multiply it by the tensile stress areas of the threads, that will give you the minimum breaking strength of your bolt. You can also calculate shear by multiplying the tensile value by 60%.
I need to figure out the sheer strength of a 3/8-16 zinc plated u-bolt. The formulas on your website require that know the type of steel alloy the bolt is made out of. How do I find that information? What is the tensile strength in psi of the weakest steel alloy commonly on the market? Thank you!
@E- Most mass produced items like that are made from low carbon steel wire. The lowest grades commonly have a tensile of about 60ksi, and whereas we can’t promise that yours will be in that range, we’d be surprised if it was much different.
A bolt is designated to be 8.8 according to BS3692, what is the yield stress of the bolt?
@Ade- We are sorry, but we are not familiar with BS3692, so are unable to be 100% certain. However, in ISO 898-1, which we believe BS3692 is based on, the yield strength for 8.8 is 640 MPa.
The information on the bolt head is the strength specification. If the grading is 8.8, with reference to the first number 8, this means the ultimate tensile strength (breaking strain to be at least this) is 800MPa, or, 800N/mm². With reference to the second number, multiplied by 10, gives the percentage of the first calculation to provide the Yield Strength. The yield strength defined as the tension required to stretch the bolt beyond its elastic capability to 0.2% plastic deformation. The Proof strength is usually around 90% of the Yield strength for standard steel bolts. (Not Stainless). Be careful when calculating as the threaded section of a bolt has a smaller cross-sectional area than the smooth shank, for instance, the smooth shank of an M16 bolt has a cross sectional area of 201mm² wheras the threaded part has a defined area of 157mm².
Hi All,
Im looking for a table that will tell me the shear and tensile capabilities of various size bolts. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Maybe there is a decent book that I can purchase with this information?
Thanks in advance
@Nick- The AISC Steel Construction Manual has that information in various charts. It is available for purchase through the AISC website.
Dear Sir
First of all, I appreciate your generosity and answering the questions. I am a student and I strictly need the stress-strain chart for ASTM A574 Hex Headed Bolts (M30).
I am waiting for your kind response
Arash
@Arash- Thank you for your interest, but we do not manufacture A574 cap screws, and so therefore we do not have a stress-strain curve to share. Apologies.
6 Ton Lifeboat hook will be installed to anchor bracket with 42 mm anchor bolt. Material of the hook is duplex stainless steel, factor of safety is 6 : 1
Please advise minimum length of material required below the hole and beside the hole.
Thank you for your time.
@Raghu- We are sorry, but we do not have any engineers on staff and so are unable to provide those calculations.
How can i calculate a bolt yield strength to a 70% , 40% etc.
@Kandyice- We are unsure of what you are asking. If you calculate the yield at 100%, can you not just multiply that by 70% or 40%, or are you asking something different?
Hi
For an M6 and M8 bolt I need to determine the bolt length to withstand certain applied forces.
How do I determine what length bolt to use?
Thanks
Ahmed
@Ahmed- You would need to consult an engineer familiar with the project in order to determine that. We can assist with specific questions about the bolt once you determine what you need, but we are unable to make engineering recommendations.
Hi
I want to calculate tension and shear capacity but from this link, it shows M12 and above for both Grade 8.8 and 10.9 https://www.engineersedge.com/hardware/countersunk_bolt_grade_109_13674.htm
Is there a formula to calculate both tension & shear capacity or a Std Table similar to the link given above for below M12 size? Thank for your time.
@Ng- We have tables and formulas for smaller bolts, but nothing with metric grades or sizes since we do not manufacture anything in metric sizes or grades. Apologies.
I am happy to contact my members here. A concrete slab was casted over 9m span beam, and later it was found the slab projection of 0.8m long with ~5m width was required to rest the window components. I don’t want to disturb the beam and slab by chipping of the concrete as the span is quite long and it is critical. In this regard, I am deciding to use square pipe 150x75x6.3mm to hold the load coming over this projected structure by bolting pipes on concrete slab to avoid the distressing of structure in place. In addition, I have calculated the load coming on to this projected portion but I am not sure how to design the number of bolts and dia bolts to counter act the load on the projected portion. Basically, the load is acting to the projected pipes as cantilever load. I wanted to know the how to get the economical section of the pipe and the bolt detail to service the load.
@Lachu- Apologies, but we do not have any engineers on staff and so are unable to make any recommendations in this instance. We are happy to answer whatever questions you may have once you have determined what size, grade, and quantity of bolts you need.
Dear sir,
how we calculate metal sheet strength by formula.
looking for your favorable reply.
Muhammad Zubair
mu.zubair@outlook.com
@Muhammad- Apologies, but we do not have any experience with sheet metal, and do not know how the mechanicals are tested or calculated.
Does strength of an all thread change if you band saw/ cut to a shorter length. If so what calculation do you use to gather that information?
Thanks
@David- No, as long as you do not use heat (like a cutting torch) to cut the bolt, the mechanical properties should not be altered.
Are there industry standards in hardness (Rockwell) for specific grades of bolts (primarily metric) – what would a failed hardness test indicate in a bolts tensile strength?
In example, 12.9 rated bolt, industry standard reads 44-49 HRC. Bolts test out at 84-89 HRB. Would this be an indication of poor quality control during production? Suggestions on 3rd party laboratory testing facilities?
Sorry error on actual hardness tested.
@Jerod- 84-89 HRB hardness readings would indicate a strength close to mild, low carbon steel (grade 2, 4.6, A307). If your 12.9 bolts have readings that low, there had to be an error in either the manufacturing processes or in the testing procedures. 12.9 bolts should never be anywhere near that soft. We use IMR Test Labs here in Portland often, and I believe they have facilitates elsewhere as well.
Hi Dane,
In ACI318-14 clause 17.2.3.4.3 there is term: NOMINAL STEEL STRENGTH of anchor, I was wondering is this same as Yield Strength you defined above? otherwise please clarify.
Thanks,
Mark
@Mark- Nominal steel strength is not necessarily an exact equivalent of yield. I was not able to find an exact definition in ACI318, but sections 4 through 6 in appendix D discuss steel strengths in detail.
I am currently working on a project that involves the use of a hydraulic torque wrench to tighten a series of nuts on an oil field blow out preventer or otherwise known as a B.O.P. So what I need to know is how many foot pounds of torque would be required to tighten these heavy hex nuts. Therefore here are the figures:
Torque tool generates up to 10,000 PSI of hydraulic pressure at testing or proving.
Stud size is 1 7/8″
Nut size is 2 15/16″ heavy hex
Threads per inch are 8
Material choice would be ASTM A193 B7 or B8
Note:
Hydraulic torque wrench would be as manufactured by companies like Titan Technologies, Hytorc, Wren etc.
If you need further information I can supply it.
Best regards and Merry Christmas
@Mario- It is difficult for us to make specific torque recommendations because every application is different and because torque is a tricky animal. What we’d need to know first is what tension or clamping force are you trying to achieve? We can then calculate a ballpark torque value, but you would still want to verify that before installation.
Does the length of the bolt not affect the sheer tensile figure?
@Nick – No, it does not.
hi , i have shaft clamped by bolt. i need to calculate the load coming on bolt when i apply torque on shaft of 200 Nm.
@Arjan- Apologies, but we are unable to help with this calculation.
how do you come about 58000 psi x 0.334 in2
@oyewole- 58,000psi is the minimum tensile strength of A36 and F1554g36 material. You multiply that by 0.334 in2 which is the area of the minor diameter of the threads for 3/4-10. That gives you the minimum ultimate breaking strength of 3/4″ A36/F1554g36.
Hello I was looking to write a test method validation for an elongation test which will be in compliance with the EN 45502-2-3 clause 23.3. Can you tell me how can I do that ?
@Rinky- We are sorry, but we are not familiar with EN 45502, so are unable to help.
How to calculation torque value on stud bolt3/4×150mm flange 3″×300# gasket 3″×300.please show me how to calculate
@Zulkifly- The torque equation, T=KDP is on our torque page along with common values. However, with the addition of a compressible gasket, we can’t be sure if those charts apply as they are for steel to steel connections only.
General question is tensile strength rated for the bolt being loaded and torqued? Does tensile strength fall off if the bolt is loose, but still has thread engagement with the nut?
@Brad- The tensile strength of the bolt does not change if it is loose, as long as it is still engaged in the nut at least one diameter. If it is engaged less, then it is possible that the assembly will fail (probably through nut stripping) before the ultimate tensile is achieved.
I’m looking for a bolt or rod to be used as an axle for a physics science project. 24″ in length, capable of handling 500 lbs static load and approximately 10,000 lbs dynamic load.
@Brian- We are able to make many grades and diameters of bolt or rod, but we don’t have any engineers on staff, so we would be unable to recommend any thing specific. You would need to tell us what diameter and grade to fabricate.
how do i need to calculate the tensile strength for the self drilling screw? Is there have any industries standard value for the tensile strength of self drilling screw? The self drilling screw based on SCREW #8 x 1/2(P/H).
@Rezza- we are sorry, but we do not have any information about self drilling screws. We primarily handle larger, custom anchor bolts.
Is it possible to estimate the effects of torsion (torque) on a bolt in relation to its yield and tensile strength? Thank you.
@Andy- We are not certain what exactly you are asking. We can calculate the torque needed to achieve a specific load, but the effects of torsion on yield? We are not sure.
For SA193 B7 bolt of 3/4inch diameter, the allowable Stress at 500F are 25000psi and what torque value should be considered for a Flexotelic Gasket
@Kamlesh- I am sorry, but are not able to make recommendations for specific applications like this. Apologies.
As I understand it, in simplist terms, tensile strength is the force required to pull a bolt apart and yeild is the force required to deform it to the point where it does not fully recover. On metric bolts it is listed as a percentage of tensile strength 8.8 is 800 megapascals with 80% yield strength or 640 megapascals. I was wondering how the tensilestrength of the bolt related to the thread strength. I never realized that the bolt would fail before the thread, with sufficient engagement and a female thread of equal strength. How badly does a full thread bolt affect shear strength when it is used in place of a partial thread bolt where the unthreaded part was in the stress or shear area? Thanks, Jeff
@Jeff- Yes, the bolt will always fail in tensile as opposed to thread stripping, unless there is a problem like loose threads or weak female material. As for shear, the strength in the threads is approximately 25-30% less than the shear strength in the shank. That is simply due to the minor (root) diameter of the threads vs the full diameter of the shank.
Slow down there, Dane, you should qualify that “the bolt will always fail in tensile as opposed to thread stripping” statement. The thread will *absolutely* fail if improperly designed or installed. The good news is that it is difficult to imagine a thread failure on a bolt and nut connection, but you should still check that it is installed properly for the anticipated loads, and make sure the assembly doesn’t pull out of the connection material. What i mean is (and this is an unrealistic and exaggerated example), imagine 1/2 inch bolts/nuts bolting into aluminum siding panels – unless you have large washers, the bolts can be pulled right out of the siding. Of course, the siding would likely pull away from the house first, but…
If they think carefully, a competent person can figure out what will work. When in doubt, call an engineer. You may be surprised how willing they would be to work with you, especially if it is an interesting project. If you’re building a structure that could collapse on someone, *always* get a structural engineer to design it.
@Chris- You are correct, I should have qualified that if the bolt is improperly designed or installed, it could strip. I will edit. Thanks for the catch.
I would assume that when quantifying strength of any structural component that it is implied that it is assembled properly. Of course there is possibility of failure if all is not right. To require stipulation that it must be installed properly is silly. Anyone with the competence to calculate tensile strength would already know this.
I’m attempting to find the maximum weight an 1144 steel rod can hold at both ends, though I’m not sure which type of equation to use.
Essentially, I am making a barbell, and will have weight plates on both ends of the bar. I, of course, will be gripping the bar with both hands, but would like to know what the possible breaking point may be if I only had one lever/one hand on the bar.
Thanks
Sorry, forgot to clarify the dimensions:
Diameter: 1 in
Length: 96 in
@Z- We can calculate the tensile, yield, or shear strength, but to me it sounds like you’d be more concerned with the bar bending. If that is the case, we do not have that equation. We also would need to know the condition of the bar – that is if it was cold drawn, and if so, whether it was a normal draft or heavy draft as that can effect the strength of the bar. For an example, let’s use normal draft. The tensile of the bar would be 60,600lbs. The yield would be 54,500lbs, and the shear would be 36,360lbs. Again, for a bending moment or other calculation, you’ll need to find someone with that equation.
or, you could just go to a sporting goods store and see what their bars are made of and the dimensions.
you’re looking for allowable plastic deformation values, which will depend on bar diameter, length and material strength. You want the bar to be able to bend (so you can still pick it up), but not bend permanently. Difficult to imagine that you’d be able to break or bend a bar made of appropriate material, but you may be the Hulk! This stuff is covered in a subject called “statics” or “static design”: https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/statics-t_63.html
How can I calculate the thread strength depending of the length of engagement of a bolt in a metal plate? More precisely, I want to ensure that a 3/4-10 bolt won’t shear out the threads of the 1in thick plate in wich it is screwed. The plate material tensile strengths are :
Ultimate : 78ksi
Yield : 44ksi
Also the shear modulus is 11600ksi.
@Samuel- I am not sure how to calculate that, but what I can tell you is that, beyond a certain point, additional thread engagement does not add any more strength, only cost. The first three or four threads shoulder the lion’s share of the burden, then it diminishes beyond that. Rule of thumb is that one diameter’s worth of thread engagement is sufficient, so a 1″ engagement on a 3/4-10 bolt should be more than enough.
These are such interesting questions! Yes that is a good analysis and rule of thumb on thread engagement. That configuration should be able to carry a hefty static tension load. If it is a large swinging or bouncing load, get an engineer to look at it.
please refer to the following link:
https://www.engineersedge.com/thread_strength/thread_minimum_length_engagement_fed-std-h28.htm
How can I calculate the breaking point ( The max weight load when it breaks) of an all thread with the length of 6″.
@Chano- In a straight line pull, the length of the bolt is irrelevant. The breaking point is the tensile stress area multiplied by the minimum tensile in psi. If your joint is more complicated, and if there are forces that are not in a straight line, then you will need to consult an engineer.
How do I determine the yield and tensile strength for a specific diameter of a 1100 aluminum stud?
@Frederick- You would multiply the tensile stress area of the stud by the yield and tensile in psi of the aluminum. We, however, do not have any strength information about 1100 aluminum.
Hello I am seeking the tensile strength of a 1 inch thick a36 steel bar with a 1 inch hole threaded for national coarse thread. I want to know the tensile strength of the threads in the steel. Also I would like to know the same exact thing but for a 2 inch bar of the same steel. Please help I can not find anywhere.
@Kelly- This FAQ shows you how to calculate the strength of both bars, however we do not know how the addition of that hole will effect the mechanicals. It will likely be determined by the location of the hole relative to the placement of the nut.
Hey, i want to know if 12 mm MS nut & Bolt can bear a load of 300 Kg
@Aman- In order to help you with this question, we would need to know the grade of bolt and nut, as well as how the fastener is being used. For example do you need it’s tensile value, or shear value, or perhaps some other value?
If a 1/4-20 x 5′ threaded rod falls a distance of 3′ to an uncarpeted shop floor, and there is no one in the building, will it make a sound? Thanks in advance.
@Roger – yes
Hi, I have been trying to find a comparison chart to determine at what torque in NM a bolt would go into yield in this case a M20x2.5 A4-80 stainless bolt. any ideas?
@Paul- Apologies, but we do not have any information on stainless steel torque values.
please how do i calculate the lifting capacity of an m30 shoulder eyebolt and the tensile stress
@Success- Each individual manufacturer of eye bolts has a chart that lists what their bolts are rated at. You will need to contact the manufacturer of your specific eye bolt to obtain that information.
Hi, I’m building a barbed wire fence roller and would like to use 3/4″ 1018 cold roll round stock for the shaft that the wire spool will attach to. The shaft will extend beyond a pillow block bearing approximately 13″ and will not be supported on the end. The wire spool is approximately 12″ in length and has a 1″ O.D. Steel tube between the spool ends. This 1″ tube has an I..D. a little larger than 3/4″ which will allow the wire spool to slip over the 3/4″ inch shaft. I need to know how much pull weight can be placed on the shaft before it will bend. Thanks in advance.
@Gary – I am sorry, but we are unable to calculate that information for you. Apologies.
hi. could you please help settle an argument between me and my fellow fencing contractor, i think a 76 x 76 x 2mm steel post is stronger than a 150 x 150 pine post, can you please help.
@Raymond – Apologies, but we don’t have the strength data for those two posts.
Hi,
I am new to metal industry, have a doubt. About the standards in Metals, bcoz there are different grades and standards. Starting from EU to ASTM, JIS, IS, GOST, DIN etc. However, for example S235 JR equivalent grade is A283C. My query is what is that makes the metal different, because I have seen Parallel flange I beams according to JIS G 3192: 2014 from Russia. So to understand what is the impact that happens on metal with the standard, whether it is the change in Chemical composition or other mechanical properties.
Kindly advice.
@Abdul – I am sorry, but we are unfamiliar with those international standards, so cannot comment on them. In general however, it is usually chemistry, mechanical properties, and manufacturing process that can differentiate one grade from another.
IS M5 BOLT SUFFICIENT TO CARRY WEIGHT OF 6Kg MOTOR HAVING 270 Kgcm TORQUE
@Vani- Apologies, but that is not something we are able to help with.
I need to do a verification calculation to show that using 10 bolts in a 20 bolt ANSI 900 flange with a garlock gasket operating at 700 psig is safe. How do I show this calculation.
@Tom Faris – I am sorry, but that is above our level of expertise. Apologies.
Hi,
Pls tell me how to calculate clamp load for bolt. I need to use in calculation of Torque Value. In the formula of torque value calculation there is mention clamp load= 75 % of proof load
So pls tell me from where we get this proof load value for bolt. Or give me the calculation of clamp load.
@Vinod- We chose to use clamploads based on 75% of proofload simply because in a few publications, that seemed to be a semi-common practice. Not every application will be the same. Proofload values should be published in the appropriate ASTM standard, or can be calculated from yield.
Hi
I have 3 treated 4×6’s that are bowing and want to pull them back into the straight vertical postion. They Are For My Polebarn that measures 24 x 32 and this is on the 32 side. I was wondering if 3/4 threaded rod is overkill since I will be drilling through the 6 inch wide section of the timber. If u can imagine the threaded rod will be anchored horizontally into 6 inches of concrete with epoxy on the face of the garage floor. Wanted to know what grade threaded rod should be used and size.
Thanks
Mark
@Mark- Thank you for your question, but I am sorry, we do not have any engineers on staff and can’t make any grade recommendations.
We are considering manufacturing a holding rod to support a caster assembly. The material will be 1 inch 4130 steel rod cut to 33″ long with two 90 degree bends one on each end 5 inches in from the end. After manufacture the bar will be oil quench hardened to 1575-1625 degrees for 1.5hrs / heated to 950 degrees for 4 hours and air cooled. The resulting tensile will 163,000 can you tell me the load strength in pounds.
@Larry- If there are no threads, just 1″ round bar, the ultimate tensile for the bar will be 127,955lbf. I cannot account for any loads on the bent portion, just the straight round bar. I hope that helps-
Dear Folks,
How do we calculate the remaining strenght of corroded bolts for flange joint integrity?
@Pragash- I am sorry, but we do not have that information. Apologies.
how can we calculate safe thickness of circular plate made of 1490 LM6 aluminium plate whose diameter is 20 mm.
@Vani- I am sorry, we do not have that information. Apologies.
how can I calculate the strength of rear cover of dc motor whose material is aluminium…give mi hint about the formula’s required for calculation…if thickness of rear cover reduces will it affect the strength? plz guide me….
@Vani- Apologies, but we do not have any information regarding this kind of material. Our expertise is limited to steel and stainless steel fasteners.
Thank you for you assistance!
I am trying to determine the sheer strength (which I know is an approximation) of three different diameter Grade 5 hitch pins: 3/4 inch, 1 inch, and 1 1/4 inch. Thank you for your assistance.
@Don – Using the area (3.14 x r^2) and multiplying that by the approximate shear strength (60% of tensile), I get the following values: 3/4″=31,824lbs. 1″=56,520lbs. 1-1/4″=77,301lbs.
6″ dia pipe. 1/2″ wall 15″ tall capped on both ends. in Static state, approx. wt. to withstand in compression. stated in tons
@Gale – Apologies, but we do not have any information regarding the compression strength of pipe.
Pls how to calculate area of a tensile bar with diameter 24.25mm and gauge length of 53.100mm
@Sampson – I am sorry, but we do not have the tensile stress area charts for metric fasteners.
I am totally lost. Pls how do you convert diameter to feet or inches?
@Sampson – 12 inches = 1 foot. 25.4mm = 1 inch
what is that yield strength of a 5″ round 14 gauge gi pipe.
@Waseem – I am sorry, but we don’t know how to calculate mechanical properties on pipe.
Thank you for a very concise explanation on calculating yield and tensile strength.
Now, onto my question:
I want to hang an elephant over my bed with a single lag bolt screwed into my ceiling. I don’t know how much the elephant weighs nor do I know if it will just be into drywall or a rafter. What lag bolt do I need (don’t use a safety factor – I like to live dangerously)?
Yes, feel free to moderate my comment and delete my sarcasm (or whole post for that matter), but I do thank you for the information.
@Pat – The biggest question would be Asian or African elephant? Let’s go with African, as they are the larger of the two. Males can weigh up 14,000lbs, so we’ll use that as a worst case scenario. A 3/4″ lag bolt, made to ASTM A307A would have an ultimate tensile strength of 14,874lbf, so it would support the weight by itself. However, the limiting factor will be the material it is screwed into, and the wood will typically yield before the lag bolt will, so you may have a problem using only one lag bolt. Not to mention that I doubt your roof/ceiling was designed to support that kind of weight. My suggestion would be to rig up a sling like they did in Smokey and the Bandit II, that supported Charlotte the elephant, and she was pregnant.
Hello, I am building a 125” long by 4’ dining room table out of laminated slabs 3” thick (5 slabs side by side to make 4’) and I am going to drill 5, 1/2” holes divided equally all the way through them I am planing on using steel threaded rods to secure the table top together and I was wandering what would be the best steel to support this kind of load to prevent sagging in the middle. Thank you.
@Dave – I am sorry, we we don’t have the expertise to make any recommendations like that. We do have strength and grade summaries on our website, and are happy to give to any technical information we have, but we do not have any engineers on staff.
If i have a Cabinet that weights 200 to 2000 pounds and we are using 3/8″ grade 2 bolts, will we have any problem?
thank you
@Shaira – You should be OK, but it depends a bit on exactly how the bolts are being used and how the cabinets are attached to the framing. Your best bet would be to consult an engineer to confirm.
I have a question.
What would be the tensile strength of a fastener Shoulder bolt: .500 dia shaft 3/8-16 thread?
THANKS
LENTES
08/06/14
@Al – I think shoulder bolts are made per the same standard as regular socket head cap screws (ASTM A574). If that is true, your 3/8-16 shoulder bolt would have an ultimate minimum tensile strength of 13,900lbs. You may want to confirm that your bolts were made to the A574 standard, we don’t usually handle shoulder bolts, so I am not certain.
I’m standing a 5000lb tare on top of another 5000 lb tare. Each has a 115 ton capacity. They are supporting a 100 ton rod shaped stator field. The field can move in the axial direction some which is why I’d like to bolt the two tare’s together. My question is what size bolts would I need to be able to support the stress of the field moving in the axial direction?
@Ryan- Apologies, but this is slightly above our level of expertise, as we do not have any engineers on staff.
I’m hanging a porch swing into a 7foot long 2×12 that is supporting my balcony. The total weight it needs to support is 700lbs and my mounting hardware has two bolt holes for each chain. Spread over four galvanized lag bolts, what’s the minimum diameter and length of a lag bolt I need?
@Matt – from a bolt strength standpoint, anything 1/4″ diameter or larger would support the weight. However, the weakest point will be where the bolt screws into the wood and the strength will be limited by the pull out value of the wood. That is information we do not have. Apologies.
Im looking for a simple steal tensile strength calculator for metal tubing/axles. Specifically 35mm diameter 3mm thick 1000 mm long. Looking for the minimum tensile strength that would be needed to be applied in the center in order to distort/bend the tube/axle.
@Chris Lumbricusland – Sorry, but we do not have any information on calculating that. Apologies.
how can i compute the 8-1/2″ diameter steel to find the ultimate yield and tensile strength?
@John – You could simply use Pi x r^2, so 56.74sq in of stress area. Then multiply that by your tensile and yield (in psi) and that will give you your ultimate strength.
Sy = 58 Ksi ER316L rode yield strength
Pr=2.94Ks Hydrostatic test pressure
0 = 1.13in Bolt diameter
l=1.375 in Bolt’s head size
T (in) Weld fillet throat dimension
P (lbs) Load applied on the bolt by the internal pressure
SVP, comment calculer la gorge du boulons apres soudage.
Merci
@Rachid- Apologies, but that is a little out of our realm of expertise.
how to calculate the strength of the steel for tension member without using tensile load method?
any other method to calculate strength of steel with or without using IS(indian standard) code book?
@Adhi – I am sorry, I do not completely understand your question. We can help in calculating tensile strength values for fasteners using the above methodology. If you have some specifics about what you are trying to calculate, please email me and perhaps I can assist.
how do I calculate the ultimate tensile strenght of Ti6Al4V from hardness values.
@Erinosho – There are conversion charts available to convert hardness to tensile for steel and steel alloy products, but I do not know if they are accurate for Titanium alloys. I can happily send you a copy if you are interested.
I have a welded test coupon that is made of x70 pipe. the cross section of the coupon is .250x.250. I am using a tensile tester to measure tensile strength. what is the formula to see what tensile the material actually is?
@JD – I am sorry, but we do not have any experience with testing pipe or special samples like that. You will need to contact a test lab for more information. Apologies.
Ted again
I did make a mistake but the question is the same.
.312 x.312 x 3.14 = .305 x 36,000psi =11,003
Thanks Ted
@Ted – The error you are making is a common one. When calculating the strength of a fastener, the tensile stress area you use is the area of the minor(root) diameter of the threads, in this case 5/8-11 is 0.226 sq in. So 36,000 x 0.226= 8,136lbs. If instead, you are trying to calculate the strength of a full sized bar with no threads, then you did the math correctly.
I am trying to calculate the yield strength of that 5/8″ bolt and I’m not seeing how you are doing your math. If I take the area (pie x r sqd) I get 3.14 x .312 x.312 =1.962 x 36,000psi tensile = 70,650 yield. what am I doing wrong?
Thanks Ted
Frequently people are concerned about threads pulling through the nut (shearing the threads). If nut and bolt are made from the same material,and thread engagement is at least 55% the bolt will pull into (tensil) before the thread shears.(General Electric standard 12A1200),
Tensil strength of any material is available in many metalurgical sites on the internet. You only need to calculate the cross section area of the bolt X tensil strength of material bolt is made of. That will tell you how many bolts are needed to support the load + safety factor
Id be interested in the same thing that Ryan is asking above. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Pierce from PBEMusic
@Pierce – Ryan’s question was answered by us directly above his question. I would agree with that response – it isn’t anything we can easily calculate.
how do you calculate 0.02% Proof stress. is it possible that your bolt passes in tensile strength and fails in proof stress.
@Ravish – Yes it is possible, but not common, that a bolt can pass the tensile test but fail the proof load test. Typically speaking, the 0.2% offset is only used when testing for yield strength, not for testing proof stress. Proof stress is a simple pass or fail test where the full size bolt is tensioned to a predetermined proofload value, held for 10 seconds, then measured to see if it elongated. Yield strength differs in that the bolt or test coupon is pulled to failure, and the yield is calculated (using the 0.2% offset method) along with the tensile, elongation and reduction of area. In order to calculate using the 0.2% offset method, you must first secure data from which a stress-strain diagram may be drawn. More detailed information can be found by looking at ASTM F606 Section 3.6.3.1 or by contacting an accredited test lab.
Example 1: Area of rectangular cross section
width (w) = 0.505 in.
thickness (t) = 0.5 in.
Area (a) = W x T
AREA (A) = 1.5 X 0.5
AREA (A) = 0.75
LOAD =12500 LBS
AREA = 0.2 IN. 2
Tensile = 12500 x 5
tensile = 62500
Must be an easier way of computing this Tensile Stength of Steel in question.
most of the time I deal with ASTM OR API CODES
SUCH AS X70 OR X65 FOR USE IN THE GAS AND OIL PIPELINE.
;
please attach the detail calculation of steel hollow section pipe SHS40x40x2.5 where thickness is 2.5
a, tensile strength
b, yield strength
c, cross sectional area
@Zwede- I am sorry, but we do not have any information on hollow pipe.
What is the shear strength required for an expansion bolt into concrete with a load of 3,500 # axial load. In what book is it shown in. can I download it on any website. What would be that website or manufacturer be?
@Donald E Brundage – I would try to contact the International Code Council or look on their website; they write a lot of the specifications for expansion anchors and those types of construction products. https://www.iccsafe.org/Pages/default.aspx
what is proof strength of material and how is it calculate,have any formula
@Ranjeet – there is not a one-size-fits-all formula for proof stress. Many ASTM specifications have published tables for proof load values, but not all do. Normally, the proof load values are about 90-92% of yield,but that can vary.
could you give me an estimated weight just for comfort is it atleast 5000 lbs per bolt
@Ryan Mozingo – Unfortunately, the value that you are looking for is impossible to calculate with any accuracy. We have an FAQ that addresses the difficulty of calculating strength values for lag bolts.
If you are looking for a generic calculation, I can offer a strength calculation based on a mild steel rod. A 5/8″ lag bolt has a minor diameter of 0.471″, which calculates to a stress area of 0.17497 sq. in. Applying the formula for calculating tensile strength for a mild steel bolt, we get a value of 10,500 lbs. for the ultimate tensile strength of a 5/8″ mild steel bolt. The shear strength, which I think you are concerned about would be about 60% of that value. Unfortunately, there is no way of verifying what grade your bolt is, or what steel your bolt is made out of, so there is absolutely no way of verifying the validity of the above information. I would consult an engineer and have your bolts tested if you are concerned about safety.
i was curious if you could tell me how much weight a 5/8 inch by 12 inch lag bolt can hold up i have a tree stand 21 feet in the air so i would like to tell people this so they feel more comfortable thank you for your time