Bolt loads model tightening forces or length adjustments in bolts or fasteners. For example, you can seal a container by tightening the bolts that hold the lid, which places a gasket under pressure. You can model the tension in the tightened bolts by applying a bolt load to each one in the first step of the analysis. You define the load in terms of either a concentrated force or a prescribed change in length, and you apply the load across a bolt cross-section surface that you specify. In later steps, you can modify the load to prevent further length changes so that the bolt acts as a standard, deformable component responding to other loadings on the assembly. Apply a force to the bolt. This method models tightening the bolt so that it carries a specified load. The force distribution is equivalent to the classic bolt pattern force distribution when the weight factors are interpreted as bolt cross-section areas. For each fastening point and group of coupling nodes, the constraint enforces a rigid beam connection. The connection is created between the fastening point and a point located at the weighted center position of the coupling nodes. | |||||||||