68045

FATIGUE STRENGTH OF LARGE STEEL SCREW THREADS UNDER AXIAL

LOADING
1.

NOTATION

N/m2

lbf/in2

alternating stress (that is, half the range of stress) based on core
area

N/m2

lbf/in2

mean stress based on core area

N/m2

lbf/in2

ft

tensile strength of material

endurance

Sa
Sm

Both SI and British units are quoted but any coherent system of units may be used.

2.

NOTES
The results of about 160 fatigue tests on solid steel bolts and studs with nominal thread diameter equal to
or greater than 1.5 in (38 mm) have been analysed to give curves of Sa /ft against N.
The ranges of the experimental variables and other details are listed in Table 2.1.
TABLE 2.1
Variable

Figure 1

Figure 2

5 800 to 102 000 lbf/in2

(405 to 703 MN/m2)

130 000 to 170 000 lbf/in2

(896 to 1170 MN/m2)

Yield stress / ft

0.46 to 0.66

0.7 to 0.85

Sm / f t

0.15 to 0.4

0.2 to 0.5

2.0 to 3.0 in
(51 to 76 mm)

1.5 to 5.06 in
(38 to 129 mm)

ft for bolt or stud material

Nominal thread diameter

Thread form
Finished
root radius

cut or ground
threads
rolled threads
Method of thread manufacture
(see Table 2.2)
ft for nut material
Test frequency
Derivation (see Section 3)

Whitworth type
0.137 of thread pitch

Unified type
0.0320.114 of thread pitch

0.1490.173 of thread pitch

A, B, E, and F

0.1360.16 of thread pitch

A, B and D

58 000 to 70 000 lbf/in2

(400 to 483 MN/m2)
4.5 to 50 c/s
(4.5 to 50 Hz)
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8

Not known

Issued November 1968

1

Not known
6, 7

68045
All tests were carried out at room temperature under a fluctuating tensile load. Care was taken to maintain
axiality of loading during the tests. All failures occurred in the threaded portion of the bolt or stud just
inside the nut, close to the loaded face. Steel nuts of standard thickness were used in all cases. The results
plotted are from unplated bolts.
The various methods of thread manufacture to which this Item refers are listed in Table 2.2.
TABLE 2.2
Method

Description of method

Location of data

Thread cut from fully heat treated material

Figures 1 and 2

Thread ground from fully heat treated material

Figures 1 and 2

Material of near nominal diameter fully heat treated

before rolling of thread

Figure 2

Material fully heat treated, then surface ground

before form-rolling of thread

Figure 1

Material fully heat treated then threads cut before

root rolling

Figure 1

Each figure shows a mean line and a scatter band including 90 per cent of the results; these bands have
been drawn so that 5 per cent of the results lie above the band and 5 per cent lie below. In Figure 1 the band
is divided, as dictated by differences in the method of thread manufacture. Figure 2 also shows scatter bands
for data from similar bolts not exceeding 1.0 in in diameter given in Item No. 84037, Fatigue strength of
external and internal steel screw threads under axial loading. (Standard forms not greater than 1.0 inch
diameter.).
For the results plotted here, differences between the two thread forms are not of practical significance.
The advantage of rolling the thread from fully heat treated material can be seen in Figure 1. The majority
of rolled thread results shown in this figure are from bolts that had been root-rolled after machining of the
thread form (Method F) and show no appreciable difference from the threads that had been fully form-rolled
(Method E). Either process induces residual compressive stresses in the surface layers of the material at
the root of the thread. The rolling process also tends to reduce the thickness at the thread root of any
decarburised layer remaining after heat treatment. The surface finish is usually improved by rolling and,
in the case of the results plotted in Figure 1, an increased root radius is provided by using a roller of section
slightly larger than the standard root radius (see Table 2.1). All these effects and in addition the work
hardening that occurs with some materials tend to increase the fatigue strength of the threads at long
endurances.
In Figure 2 results are plotted from a limited number of tests on bolts ranging from 1.5 to 5.0 in diameter.
The threaded portions of these bolts were either cut or ground to give root radii smaller than standard or
rolled to give a range of root radii. Although there are no appreciable differences shown by these results
other data suggest that a proportionately larger root radius is beneficial, see Item No. 67020, Fatigue
strength of steel screw threads with large root radii under axial loading.

68045
To ensure consistent improvements in fatigue strength due to root rolling it is important to use a roller load
sufficiently large to cause some plastic deformation of the thread root. Investigations have shown that for
a given bolt diameter the required roller loads increase with pitch, typical values for the 2.0 in diameter
bolts of Figure 1, made from 45 ton steel, being 600 lbf for 8 t.p.i. and 1100 lbf for 4 t.p.i. The rollers used
in this case had profiles 0.003 in larger than the standard root radius for Whitworth threads. Excessive roller
loads should be avoided.
To obtain a symmetrically rolled root with a good surface finish several roller passes both up and down the
thread are recommended. A minimum of 4 roller passes has been demonstrated as sufficient and the
additional benefits to be obtained from more than 8 passes have been shown to be insignificant.
The curves in both figures may be assumed independent of mean stress, except when the maximum load
in the cycle is sufficient to cause yielding over the whole core area. In practice, when calculating the mean
and alternating stresses in a bolt or stud, any pre-tension applied during assembly of the joint must be taken
into consideration.
This Item applies only to axially loaded threads, Any bending, for example that induced by a slightly
out-of-square seating for the nut, can produce a severe reduction in the endurance of a screw thread, as is
shown in Item No. 67034, Effect of inclined nut seatings on the fatigue strength of steel screw threads.
Further information on the strength of screw threads may be located by reference to the Engineering
Sciences Data Index.

3.

DERIVATION

1.

TAYLOR, B.
NEWBY, D.

The accuracy of various screw-cutting methods and their influence on

the fatigue strength of large bolts. B.S.R.A. Report No. 175, 1955.

2.

TAYLOR, B.
WILSON, G.J.

An investigation of the effect of thread rolling on the fatigue strength of

bolts. B.S.R.A. Report No. 186, 1955.

3.

DOWIE, W.F.

The effect of thread rolling on the fatigue strength of bolts. B.S.R.A.

Report No. 283, 1959.

4.

COOK, R.
McCLIMONT, W.

Influence of screw forming methods on fatigue strength of bolts. Trans.

Inst. Mar. Engrs, Vol. 73, pp. 417-432, 1961.

5.

DOWIE, W.F.

A comparison of the fatigue strength of bolts with Whitworth and

Sulzer Power Acme threads in both cut and rolled thread conditions.
B.S.R.A. Report No. 390, 1962.

6.

SNOW, A.L.
LANGER, B.F.

Low-cycle fatigue of large-diameter bolts. J. Engng Ind., Vol. 89,

Series B, No. 1, pp. 53-61, February 1967.

7.

FRITZ, R.J.

Cyclic stress for bolts and studs. Am. Soc. Mech. Engrs, Preprint
67-Met-23, April 1967.

8.

MORRISON, J.
DOWIE, W.F.

Further investigations into the fatigue strength of root-rolled bolts.

B.S.R.A. Report No. NS 190, 1968.

0.6
0.5

Failure
Position

0.4

0.3

Threads root or form-rolled

Axial Load

3
2

0.2

S a / ft

101 f for bolt or stud

t
0.09

58 800 to
2

material

102 000 lbf/in

0.07

Yield stress /ft

0.46 to 0.66

0.06

Sm/ft

0.15 to 0.4

0.05

Nominal thread diameter

2.0 to 3.0 in

Thread form

Whitworth type

0.08

Threads cut or ground

Symbol

0.04

0.03

Threads formed by
Cutting (A)
Grinding (B)
Rolling (E, F)
Unbroken specimen

Finished root radius

Cut or ground threads
Rolled threads
ft for nut material

0.137 of thread pitch

0.149 to 0.173 of thread
pitch
2
58 000 to 70 000 lbf/in

Test frequency

4.5 to 50 cycles/second

Numbers of coincident results are quoted

against points where they occur.

104

6 7 8

105

6 7 8

106

6 7 8

107

FIGURE 1 THREADS MANUFACTURED BY METHODS A, B, E AND F

6 7 8

108

68045

0.02

0.60
0.50

Failure
Position

0.40

2* *

0.30

Axial Load

**
2
0.20

Rolled threads not greater

than 1.0 in diameter
(Refer to Item No. 84037)

**

*
Sa
ft
0.10
0.09

ft for bolt or stud

130 000 to

material

170 000 lbf/in 2

**

Cut or ground threads not

greater than 1.0 in diameter
(Refer to Item No. 84037)

0.7 to 0.85

0.08 Yield stress /ft

0.07

Sm/ft

0.2 to 0.5

Nominal thread diameter

1.5 to 5.06 in

Thread form

Unified type

0.06
0.05

0.04 Finished root radius

Cut or ground threads

Thread diameter
1.5 in 3.0 to 4.0 in 5.06 in

0.032 to 0.114 of
thread pitch
0.136 to 0.16 of
thread pitch

Rolled threads
0.03
ft for nut material

Not known

Test frequency

Not known

&

%

Thread formed by
Cutting (A)
Grinding (B)
Rolling (D)
Unbroken specimen

Number of coincident results are quoted against

points where they occur

0.02

103

6 7 8

104

6 7 8

105

6 7 8

106

FIGURE 2 THREADS MANUFACTURED BY METHODS A, B AND D

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68045
THE PREPARATION OF THIS DATA ITEM
The work on this particular Item was monitored and guided by the Stress Analysis and Strength of
Components Committee which first met in 1964 and now has the following membership:
Chairman
Mr H.L. Cox

National Physical Laboratory

Vice-Chairman
Mr G.P. Smedley

Lloyds Register of Shipping

Members
Prof. J.M. Alexander
Mr A.J. Batchelor
Mr C.E. Day
Dr J.R. Dixon
Dr H. Fessler
Mr N.E. Frost
Dr R.B. Heywood
Mr M.J. Kemper
Mr J. Spence
Mr J.V. Vint

Imperial College of Science and Technology

Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
National Coal Board
National Engineering Laboratory
University of Nottingham
National Engineering Laboratory
A. Macklow-Smith Ltd
A.P.V. Company Ltd
University of Strathclyde
Davy and United Engineering Company Ltd.

The Item was also accepted for inclusion in the Fatigue Sub-series by the Fatigue Committee which first
met in 1955 and now has the following membership:
Chairman
Dr G. Forrest

Alcan Research and Development Ltd

Vice-Chairman
Mr R.H. Sandifer

Independent

Members
Mr K.E. Cheverton
Mr R.A. Clare
Mr H.L. Cox
Mr A.J. Fenner
Dr W.J. Harris
Mr J.A.B. Lambert
Mr N.H. Mason
Mr H.E. Parish
Mr E.L. Ripley
Mr V.A.B. Rogers

Rolls Royce Ltd, Bristol Engine Division, Filton

Ministry of Technology
National Physical Laboratory
Ministry of Technology
Rolls Royce Ltd, Small Engine Division, Leavesden
Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd
Independent
British Aircraft Corporation (Preston) Ltd
Royal Aircraft Establishment
Westland Aircraft Ltd.

The members of staff of ESDU concerned were:

Mr A.G.R. Thomson
Mr M.E. Grayley
Mr J.B. Milburn

Head of Mechanics of Solids Group

Senior Engineer, Mechanics of Solids Group
Mechanics of Solids Group.
6