ON THE EFFECTS OF CIRCULAR BOLT PATTERNS ON THE ...

3.2.1 Bolt Pattern Configuration
Several bolt patterns were selected and a testing matrix was developed. The bolt pattern was
selected from regular geometric shapes to simplify the design as well as fabrication process. Figure 3-1
illustrated the regular geometric shapes that were proposed and tested in this study.
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1.5 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.5
3.5
2.5
2.5
3.5
(a) (b) (c)
Figure 3-1 Bolt Pattern Configurations, (a) Line, (b) Square, And (c) Circular.
(All Units Are In Inches)
Figure 3-1(a) shows the bolt pattern configuration in which all the bolts are located at the same
distance with respect to the stem. The designation name “Line” is assigned to this bolt configuration.
Figure 3-1(b) shows the connection with the traditional square bolt pattern. This pattern has been widely
used in the industry with various gage, and pitch spacing. Figure 3-1(c) illustrates the proposed circular
bolt pattern. The designated name for each test is tabulated in Table 3-1.
Table 3-1 T-Stubs Test Matrix
Specimen ID Bolt Diameter Bolt Pattern
TS-L
1.5
6 1.5
½ ”
23
Line
TS-S Square
TS-C Circular
To validate the numerical results obtained from the finite element analysis, three models with
different bolt pattern configurations were selected and tested experimentally, and the results were
1
2.5
2.5
2.5
2.5
1
1.5
33
6.0
4.3
100°
33°
33°
1.5
2.25
1.2
2.5
2.5
1.2
2.25