Why do bolt joints loose clamp load over time?

There are many reasons – such as vibrations, changing temperatures, and operation loads, to name a few. But one thing is certain: correct clamp load is critical everywhere. It all comes down to the proper tightening procedure of the bolt joints, and this can be a risky matter.

The common mistake and root causes

Bolt joints are much more complicated that one might expect. When you tighten your bolt joints with some sort of hydraulic or pneumatic torque wrench, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to how much of the specified torque went into axial clamp load. And this uncertainty is linked to the friction in the joint.

In addition, other general root causes to avoid are relaxation and bolt ‘neighbour effects’. And a special root cause is Joint Face Angularity Error, meaning that the bolt joint suffers from unparallel planes. This leads to eccentric clamp load which in turn can lead to drastic reduction of the fatigue properties of the bolt joint.

All these mistakes and root causes can be addressed by using TensionCam. You need to be able to assure the correct clamp load in your industrial constructions. It is not only important – it is essential!

The optimal solution

When you properly monitor and control the actual clamp load at installation and during the life of the bolt joint, you make sure that the bolt joins function as intended. And this is easy to achieve with the help of TensionCams services and hardware.

Application examples:

Industrial heat exchanger
Pipe connection and flanges
Vehicle wheels
Wind power foundation and anchor bolts

Take control over your clamp load. Get in touch and we will help you!