1. What is Bolt Tearout?

Bolt tearout is a failure mode where the material around a bolt hole fails in shear due to excessive load. It occurs when the edge distance is insufficient to resist the applied forces.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the tearout load formula:

Where:

• Shear Strength — Material's resistance to shear forces (MPa)
• Thickness — Thickness of the material being bolted (mm)
• Distance — Edge distance from hole center to material edge (mm)

Explanation: The equation calculates the maximum load before tearout failure occurs by considering material properties and geometric factors.

3. Importance of Tearout Calculation

Details: Proper tearout calculation ensures bolted connections can withstand applied loads without failing. It's critical in structural design, machinery, and any application with bolted joints.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter material shear strength in MPa, thickness in mm, and edge distance in mm. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical shear strength for steel?
A: Structural steel typically has shear strength of about 0.6 times its tensile strength (e.g., ~300 MPa for mild steel).

Q2: How does edge distance affect tearout?
A: Greater edge distance increases tearout resistance linearly. Minimum edge distance is typically 1.5-2 times bolt diameter.

Q3: Why is the factor of 2 in the formula?
A: The factor accounts for two potential shear planes (one on each side of the bolt) where tearout can occur.

Q4: Does bolt diameter affect tearout?
A: Not directly in this formula, but larger bolts require greater edge distances to prevent tearout.

Q5: How does material thickness influence tearout?
A: Thicker materials have greater tearout resistance as the shear area increases proportionally with thickness.