Bolt Science has developed a distance learning course on Torque Tightening - Best Practice Guidance for engineering personnel involved in the torque tightening of threaded fasteners. The training is:

Further details are available below and in the course brochure that can be downloaded by clicking on the link below:

View the Brochure: Training Course on Torque Tightening - Best Practice Guidance

Background

The failure of bolted joints occurs across most industries. Some failures are disastrous resulting in a loss of life. The frequent cause of such failures is that the fastener tightening process was inadequate in some way. With hindsight, most accidents are preventable.

In the workplace there is an obligation that a person's competence is managed in accordance with applicable legislation and standards taking into account best practice guidance. The purpose of this training course is to provide advice as to what is generally regarded as best practice guidance in regard to the torque tightening of threaded fasteners.

This online distance learning course is designed for engineering personnel who are responsible for, or involved in, the torque tightening of threaded fasteners.

Key benefits of this training

When you finish this course, you will be familiar with what is the best practice in regard to the torque tightening of threaded fasteners. Some of the key points that you will learn include:
The key terms used in regard to bolts, nuts and threads.
Understand why it is important that bolts should be fully tightened.
Understand what is meant by a torque and bolt preload and appreciate the difference between them.
Appreciate the problems and issues that under and over tightening can cause.
Have an appreciation that the tightening torque is influenced by lubrication.
Identify the different types of torque wrenches.
Understand what is meant by a tightening sequence and typical sequences used for circular and non-circular bolt patterns.
Understand what is meant by torque auditing and the main methods that are used in practice.

A training course handbook is provided as part of the training that can be viewed online and printed out, if required. The handbook contains background information to the material presented on the course.

Course Agenda and Contents

Introduction to Threaded Fasteners

Bolts, screws and studs - what's the difference?
Terminology and the size of the bolt or the screw
Different head styles and the across flats/socket size
Background to threads - the thread form itself, the pitch of the thread, how a thread size and pitch can be checked.
The difference between a fine and coarse thread and the reasons why which type is normally selected.
Thread tolerances and why the bolt thread must be slightly smaller than the nut thread.
Protrusion of the bolt thread past the nut and the number of threads on the bolt within the joint.
Blind holes and getting the bolt length correct.

Bolts, nuts and washers

The strength of metric bolts and their marking.
Styles of nuts - the use of thin, normal and high nuts.
Checking that the bolt and nut strengths are appropriate for each other.
Bolt and nut head markings and identification of correct components.
The use of washers and lock washers.
Nut/bolt combinations, nut strength versus bolt strength.
The types of self-locking nuts and their usage.

Torque Tightening

What is meant by a tightening torque. Units used to measure torque.
Tightening torque and the importance of bolt load.
Bolt stretch and joint compression due to tightening.
Factors affecting how much bolt load you get for a given torque applied.
Background to the torque value and how it is arrived at, use of a torque table.
Torque tightening and the lubrication condition.

Types of Torque Wrenches and their Usage

The different types of torque wrench in common usage.
Use of a torque wrench and tightening to the specified torque value.
The setting of a clicker type torque wrench.
An overview of hydraulic, pneumatic and impact wrenches and the use of torque multipliers.
What should be tightened, the bolt head or the nut?
Under and over torqueing and the implications of each.
Tightening to a target value when a tolerance is given for torque.

Tightening Problems and how to avoid them

Problems that can arise from overtightening.
Issues arising from thread stripping of the bolt thread.
Issues arising from thread stripping of the bolt thread.
Under tightening and fatigue failure of the bolt.
Under tightening and self-loosening of the fastener.

Tightening Joints consisting of Multiple Bolts

Why tightening sequences are specified.
Common tightening sequences for circular bolting patterns.
Common tightening sequences for non-circular bolting patterns.
Completion of a check pass.

Quality Checks - Torque Auditing

The use of witness marking.
The use of loose nut indicators.
Approaches to torque auditing.
Residual and break loose torque.
The on-torque residual torque auditing method.
The static audit torque assessment.

Course Duration

Access to the course will be available for three months following the login and password details being provided.

Course Director

Bill Eccles is a mechanical engineer with 40 years experience in mechanical engineering with the last 20+ years specialising in bolting.

 

Order online (using a secure server)

 

NOTE: This training does not make any determination of an individual's capabilities in applying this general knowledge within a specific work environment or under actual working conditions. It remains the sole responsibility of the employer of the individual to determine competency for assigned tasks and work.