Aircraft Materials and Hardware

Lecture 03: Bolts

Muhammad Dawood Bukhari
Lecturer
Lahore School of Aviation
The University of Lahore
Lahore School of Aviation
1
The University of Lahore
 INTRODUCTION
• Many types of bolts are used on aircraft. However,
before discussing some of these types, it might be
helpful to list and explain some commonly used
bolt terms. You should know the names of bolt
parts and be aware of the bolt dimensions that
must be considered in selecting a bolt. Figure
below shows both types of information.
• The three principal parts of a bolt are the head,
thread, and grip. The head is the larger diameter
of the bolt and may be one of many shapes or
designs. The head keeps the bolt in place in one
direction, and the nut used on the threads keeps
it in place in the other direction.
INTRODUCTION
 BOLT HEADS
• The most common type of head
is the hex head. This type of
head may be thick for greater
strength or relatively thin in
order to fit in places having
limited clearances. In addition,
the head may be common or
drilled to lock wire the bolt. A
hex- head bolt may have a
single hole drilled through it
between two of the sides of the
hexagon and still be classed as
common. The drilled head-hex
bolt has three holes drilled in
the head, connecting opposite
sides of the hex.
 BOLT HEADS
• Seven additional types of bolt heads are shown in figure below. Notice that;
• Figure shows an eyebolt, often used in flight control systems.

• Figure shows a countersunk-head, close-tolerance bolt.

• Figure shows an internal-wrenching bolt. Both the countersunk- head bolt

and the internal-wrenching bolt have hexagonal recesses (six-sided holes) in
their heads. They are tightened and loosened by use of appropriate sized
Allen wrenches.

• Figure shows a clevis bolt with its characteristic round head. This head may
be slotted, as shown, to receive a common screwdriver or recessed to receive
a Reed-and-Prince or a Phillips screwdriver.
 BOLT HEADS
• Figure shows a torque-set wrenching recess that has four driving
wings, each one offset from the one opposite it. There is no
taper in the walls of the recess. This permits higher torque to be
applied with less tendency for the driver to slip or cam out of
the slots.

• Figure shows an external-wrenching head that has a washer face

under the head to provide an increased bearing surface. The 12-
point head gives a greater wrench-gripping surface.

• Figure shows a hi-torque style-driving slot. This single slot is

narrower at the center than at the outer portions.
 BOLT MATERIAL
• The type of metal used in an aircraft bolt helps to
determine its strength and its resistance to corrosion
• bolts have distinctive head markings that help to
identify the material from which they are
manufactured.
X
X

Steel Corrosion Resistant Steel Close Corrosion Resistant

Steel Tolerance Steel (Close Tolerance)
 BOLT IDENTIFICATION
• Unless current directives specify otherwise, every unserviceable bolt
should be replaced with a bolt of the same type.
• Exactly what this part number means depends upon whether the bolt is
AN (Air Force-Navy), NAS (National Aircraft Standard), or MS (Military
Standard).
• Bolts are manufactured in many shapes and varieties. A clear- cut method
of classification is difficult. Bolts can be identified by the shape of the
head, method of securing, material used in fabrication, the designation or
the expected usage.
• AN-type aircraft bolts can be identified by the code markings on the bolt
heads.
• The markings generally denote the bolt manufacturer, the material of
which the bolt is made, and whether the bolt is a standard AN-type or a
special-purpose bolt.
• corrosion-resistant steel is indicated by a single raised dash; and
• AN aluminium alloy bolts are marked with two raised dashes.
• Close-tolerance NAS bolts are marked with either a raised or recessed
triangle.
 BOLT IDENTIFICATION

STEEL
 AN PART NUMBER
AIR FORCE BOLT SAFETYING
NAVY BOLT MATERIAL PROVISIONS

SERIES DASH NUMBER

NUMBER (BOLT GRIP
(CLASS AND AND LENGTH)
DIAMETER)
 AN PART NUMBER

• Diameter:
• The last figure or last two figures, of the AN number
indicates the diameter in 1/16” increments.
– AN4 is a bolt of ¼” diameter
– AN14 is a bolt of 7/8” (14/16”) diameter

• Lengths:
• Quoted in 1/8” increments as a dash number.
– AN4 – 2 is a ¼” diameter hexagon headed bolt, ¼” long.
 AN PART NUMBER
• Position of Drilled Hole

– Drilled shank - normal coding

• AN24 – 15

– Un-drilled shank - an A added after dash No.

• AN24 – 15A

– Drilled head only - an H added before the dash number an

A is added after the dash number
• AN25DH15A

– Drilled head and shank – an H added before dash No

• AN25DH15
 AN PART NUMBER
• Material
• C - Corrosion Resistance Steel (CRS)
– AN25C15

• DD - 2024 Aluminium Alloy

– AN25DD15

•D - 2017 Aluminium Alloy

- AN25D15

• - Cadmium Plate Nickel Steel

AN25 15
 NAS PART NUMBER
• .

sixteenths)
MS PART NUMBER
 BOLTS
GENERAL-PURPOSE BOLTS
• The hex-head aircraft bolt (AN-3 through AN-20) is an all- purpose
structural bolt used for general applications involving tension or shear
loads where a light-drive fit is permissible
DRILLED-HEAD ENGINE BOLTS
• AN73 through AN81 bolts are hex-headed nickel-steel bolts that are
similar in appearance to the AN3 through AN20 series. However, unlike
standard bolts, drilled-head engine bolts have a thicker head that is
drilled with a small hole in each of the flats and in the center of the head.
CLOSE-TOLERANCE BOLTS
• Close tolerance bolts are designated AN173 to AN186 and are ground to a
tolerance of +0.000 -0.0005 inch. This is much tighter than standard AN3
through AN20 bolts which are manufactured with a tolerance of +0.000
-0.0025
INTERNAL-WRENCHING BOLTS
• These bolts, (MS-20004 through MS-20024 or NAS-495) are fabricated
from high-strength steel and are suitable for use in both tension and
shear applications.
 BOLTS
SPECIAL-PURPOSE BOLTS
• Many special fasteners have the advantage of producing
high strength with lightweight and can be used in place of
conventional AN bolts and nuts.
CLEVIS BOLTS
• All of the bolts discussed so far may be used for either
shear or tensile loads. However, some applications require
a bolt to be loaded in shear only.
• The AN21 through AN36 clevis bolt has a domed head that
is typically slotted or recessed to accept a screwdriver.
• A unique feature of a clevis bolt is that only a short portion
of the shank is threaded, and there is a small notch
between the threads and the shank. This result in a long
grip length, which increases the bolt's shear strength and
allows the bolt to rotate more freely in its hole.
BOLTS
 BOLTS
EYEBOLT
• AN42 through AN49
• This type of special-purpose bolt is used where
external tension loads are to be applied. The eye
is designed for the attachment of such devices as
the fork of a turnbuckle, a clevis, or a cable
shackle. The threaded end may or may not be
drilled for safetying.
 BOLTS
JO-BOLT
• Jo-bolt is a trade name for an internally threaded
three-piece rivet. The Jo-bolt consists of three parts-
a threaded steel alloy bolt, a threaded steel nut, and
an expandable stainless steel sleeve. The parts are
factory preassembled. As the Jo-bolt is installed, the
bolt is turned while the nut is held. This causes the
sleeve to expand over the end of the nut, forming
the blind head and clamping against the work. When
driving is complete, a portion of the bolt breaks off
(figure below). The high-shear and tensile strength of
the Jo-bolt makes it suitable for use in cases of high
stresses where some of the other blind fasteners
would not be practical.
 BOLTS
• .

Countersunk Hexagon
Type Head Type

Flat Section
of Thread

Waisted
Groove
Breaker

Deformed
Bolt Sleeve
Sleeve

Jo Bolts
Fig.13
 BOLTS
LOCK BOLTS
• There are three types of lock bolts used in aviation:
the pull-type lock bolt, the blind-type lock bolt, and
the stump-type lock bolt.
• The pull-type lock bolt has a pulling stem on which a
pneumatic installation gun fits. The gun pulls the
materials together and then drives a locking collar
into the grooves of the lock bolt. Once secure, the
gun fractures the pulling pin at its break point.
• The blind-type lock bolt is similar to most other types
of blind fasteners. To install a blind-type lock bolt, it is
placed into a blind hole and an installation gun is
placed over the pulling stem. As the gun pulls the
stem, a blind head forms and pulls the materials
together. Once the materials are pulled tightly
together, a locking collar locks the bolt in place and
the pulling stem is broken off.
• The third type of lock bolt is the stump-type lock bolt,
and is installed in places where there is not enough
room to use the standard pulling tool. Instead, the
stump-type lock bolt is installed using an installation
tool
 BOLTS
Lock bolts are available for both shear and
tension applications. With shear lock
bolts, the head is kept thin and there are
only two grooves provided for the locking
collar. However, with tension lock bolts,
the head is thicker and four or five
grooves are provided to allow for higher
tension values. The locking collars used on
both shear and tension lock bolts are
colour coded for easy identification
 BOLTS
HI-LOK FASTENERS
• The Hi-lok fasteners,
shown in figure A,
combines the features of a
rivet and a bolt and are
used for high-strength,
interference- free fit of
primary structures. The
Hi-lok fastener consists of
a threaded pin and
threaded locking collar.
The pins are made of
cadmium-plated alloy Hi-Lok Fastener

steel with protruding or

100-degree flush heads
 BLOTS
TAPER-LOK FASTENER.
• Taper-Loks are the strongest special
fasteners used in aircraft construction.
Because of its tapered shape, the Taper-Lok
exerts a force on the conical walls of a hole,
much like a cork in a wine bottle. To a
certain extent, a Taper-Lok mimics the
action of a driven solid shank rivet, in that it
completely fills the hole. However, a Taper-
Lok does this without the shank swelling.
• When a washer nut draws the Taper-Lok
into its hole, the fastener pushes outward
and creates a tremendous force against the
tapered walls of the hole. This creates
radial compression around the shank and
vertical compression lines as the metals are
squeezed together. The combination of
these forces generates strength unequalled
by any other type of fastener.
 BLOTS
HI-TIGUE FASTENERS
• The Hi-Tigue fastener has a bead that encircles the
bottom of its shank and is a further advancement in
special fastener design. This bead preloads the hole
it fills, resulting in increased joint strength. During
installation, the bead presses against the sidewall of
the hole, exerting a radial force, which strengthens
the surrounding area.
BOLT SELECTION AND INSTALLATION
• When joining two pieces of
material, their combined thickness
determines the correct length of
bolt to use. If you recall, a bolt's grip
length is the length of the shank's
BOLT GRIP LENGTH CORRECT
unthreaded portion and should be
identical to the total thickness bf the
materials being fastened together. If
the grip length is slightly longer than
this thickness, washers must be
BOLT GRIP LENGTH TOO SHORT
added to ensure that the nut can
provide the proper amount of
pressure when it is tightened. On
the other hand, if the grip length is
substantially less than the thickness
of the materials the bolt's threads BOLT GRIP LENGTH TOO LONG

will extend into the material,

resulting in a weaker joint.