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Novel anti-loosening nut designed to have large and stable loosening resistance torque

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Abstract

This paper presents a novel anti-loosening nut design, called “SL nut”. It features an anti-loosening ring with an interference fit with the bolt thread, thereby squeezing the bolt in the radial direction. Using the finite element analysis, the prevailing and loosening resistance torques of the SL nut were investigated during tightening and untightening processes. The nut demonstrated the largest prevailing and loosening resistance torque among the nuts with prevailing torque. Importantly, both torques remained steadily large during tightening and untightening process. The magnitude of the torques can be controlled by adjusting the overlap length of anti-loosening ring. This new type could become a cost-effective solution for a variety of industrial applications. Additionally, the approach we employed could spur further development of anti-loosening nuts.

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Abbreviations

F :

Clamping force

T :

Tightening torque

T p :

Prevailing torque

T u :

Untightening torque

\({T^u}_R\) :

Loosening resistance torque

Δ :

Overlap length

μ s :

Friction coefficients at the thread surface

μ w :

Friction coefficients at the bearing surface

P :

Pitch

σ r :

Radial stress

C :

Clearance

θ :

Rotation angles of nut

S :

Displacement of clamped plate

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

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Correspondence to Xi Liu.

Additional information

Evgeniia Shchelkanova received her Ph.D. in Engineering from Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, 2021. Her research interests include biomechanics, locomotion assistive devices, prosthetics and orthotics.

Xi LIU received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan in 2020. He has been doing research and teaching at Yanshan University, China, 2021-present. He is mainly engaged in strength analysis, structural optimization, fatigue life prediction. He has been engaged in research on bolt anti-loosening and fatigue resistance for many years.

Nao-Aki Noda received his Ph.D. degree from Kyushu University. He was doing research and teaching at Kyushu Inst. Tech. Kitakyushu, Japan, 1984–2022 and now he is a Professor Emeritus. He is an author of Theory of Elasticity useful for engineers and a co-author of Safety Engineering for Workers in Industry and other several books. He is a co-editor of Stress Intensity Factors Handbook, Vol. 4 & 5, Advances in Finite Element Analysis for Computational Mechanics. He is a recipient of Outstanding Paper Medal and Education Award from Japan Soc. Tech. Plasticity, Sokeizai Industry Technology award from the Materials Process Tech. Ctr. He also received JSMS Academic Contribution Award and JSME Materials and Mechanics Division Contribution Award, JSDE Best paper Award and JCOM Best paper Award. He is a fellow of JSME (Japan Soc. Mech. Engrs.) and a fellow of JSAE (Soc. Automotive Engrs. Japan). His achievements include researches in stress analysis for notched material testing specimens, and development for large ceramics structures used for steel manufacturing machinery.

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Shchelkanova, E., Liu, X. & Noda, NA. Novel anti-loosening nut designed to have large and stable loosening resistance torque. J Mech Sci Technol 37, 2461–2469 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0422-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0422-9

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