| The bolted joint is a surprisingly complicated affair. Literally hundreds of factors affect the results when we assemble a joint, and hundreds more affect its behavior and life when we put that joint to use. Because of this, the designs of most joints are based on "feel," supported by "past experience" or "custom." Also because of this most joints are overdesigned; the joint members are stronger and the bolts larger and/or more numerous than would be the case if we could control assembly and predict behavior more accurately. |
| An earlier book by one of the present editors, An Introduction to the Design and Behavior of Bolted Joints (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York) was an attempt to introduce the engineer to these complexities by summarizing the various aspects of design and behavior. That work, which was originally published in a volume of 450 pages, is now available in a third edition containing over twice that many pages. But it is still, as advertised, an "introduction" to the subject. |
| The time has now come to move beyond the introductory level in a pair of hardcover texts. The present Handbook of Bolts and Bolted Joints is one of this pair; a sister volume, Gaskets and Gasketed Joints (1997, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York) is the other. Following modern practice, each book has been written by a large number of authors, each contributing one or more chapters on his specialty. We believe that each of our contributors is a recognized authority on his subject, and we have encouraged each to provide basic, time-tested information as well as dependable emerging research. |
| Although the material in this volume is more authoritative and contains greater detail than the earlier Introduction, every effort has been made to make it useful rather than just "scholarly." Whenever possible, each chapter includes straightforward how-to-do-it or what-to-do information. Background theories are included only as necessary to give readers an understanding of bolt and joint behavior that will help them to select parts or materials, create designs, control the assembly process, and minimize or solve problems. Extensive references are provided, however, for those who wish to delve deeper into the theoretical work that supports the information presented here. |
| Although truly complete coverage would require many more volumes, a serious attempt has been made to include chapters on all of the key issues affecting bolting. This includes all of the subjects covered in the Introduction volume: bolt and joint behavior, bolting materials, joint design procedures, a wide variety of assembly techniques, and all important failure modes. Each such topic is covered here in greater detail than in the Introduction and, as mentioned, is covered by a specialist in his field. |
| In addition, the Handbook includes chapters on many new subjects. For example, where the earlier work focuses on the design and behavior of bolted joints, this volume includes many chapters devoted to the fastenerthe boltalone. There are chapters on metric fasteners, |
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