SPACEBOLT™: FASTENER VERIFICATION SOLUTION FOR THE SPACE INDUSTRY
Nikolay Asmolovskiy (1), Florian Ruess (1), Benjamin Braun (1), Gianni Campoli (2), Miguel Such Taboada (2)
(1)
Space Structures GmbH
Fanny-Zobel-Str. 9, 12435 Berlin, Germany
EMail: asmolovskiy@spacestructures.de, ruess@spacestructures.de, braun@spacestructures.de
(2)
ESA ESTEC
Keplerlaan 1, PO Box 299, NL-2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
EMail: Gianni.Campoli@esa.int, Miguel.Such.Taboada@esa.int
ABSTRACT available tools on the market which implement the VDI-
2230 procedure. Despite the fact that the ECSS handbook
Threaded fastener joints are commonly used in spacecraft
is mainly based on the VDI standard, adaptation of the
components. Their design and verification in accordance
pure VDI-2230 procedure to the space projects requires
with the relevant standards is a labour-intensive task
significant efforts due to specific safety factors
prone to human errors. Thus, the efficiency and usability
philosophy and margin of safety calculations.
of the verification tools play a crucial role. This paper
presents the fastener verification tool SpaceBolt™
SpaceBolt™ was initially created as the internal tool at
created specifically for the needs of the space industry.
Space Structures GmbH specifically for the space
projects needs and, therefore, based on the ECSS-E-HB-
User-friendly interface, validated verification
32-23A and VDI-2230 standards. The top-level
procedures, direct import of the FEA results,
requirements for the software are:
comprehensive reports, and integrated means of the
- Compliance with ECSS-E-HB-32-23A.
problem mitigation boost the engineer’s productivity and
- User friendly graphical interface with database
correctness of the results.
functionality for standard data and parameters.
- Import of bolt forces from NASTRAN PUNCH files,
CSV tables or direct user input.
1. INTRODUCTION
- Analysis of several bolt groups in a single session.
Bolted joints are one of the most common connection - Comprehensive documentation of the results.
methods in structural engineering. Verification
procedures are presented in the number of normative After very positive internal feedback, it was decided to
documents (VDI-2230 [1], EN 1993-1-8, NASA-STD- offer this tool as the commercial product. After an
5020, ECSS-E-HB-32-23A [2] etc.) A common approach internal evaluation process [5], SpaceBolt™ procured by
is to implement relevant calculations in spreadsheets and ESA. Successful cooperation with ESA resulted in the
reuse them for the next projects. Experience shows this development of additional modules for the bolts
approach is not robust: the spreadsheets are poorly verification under the vibration loads and fracture
validated and can become inconsistent due to constant analysis data generation compatible with NASGRO™
modifications required to adapt them to new projects. In [3].
addition, results of such spreadsheet analyses are often
difficult to check for an independent reviewer.
To overcome these problems, it is beneficial to use
specialized tools for the bolt calculations.
The ECSS handbook ECSS-E-HB-32-23A provides the
guidelines for the fastener verification and recommended
for the European space industry projects. This handbook
addresses each failure mode related to the threaded
fasteners by the corresponding margin of safety
calculation. Special attention in the space structures
verification is dedicated to the slippage and gapping
failure modes.
VDI-2230 is one of the most widely applied bolt
verification standards in mechanical engineering in Figure 1. Main window
Europe, therefore there is a number of commercially
Today, SpaceBolt™ helps engineers in a number of
companies to design MGSE, electronic and optical units,
and satellite structures spanning from CubeSats to large
spacecrafts. All customers, and most significantly Airbus
Defence and Space, have reported the tool helps to
significantly improve the bolt calculation process and
increase productivity. The feedback from the community
is continuously implemented in the software for its
further improvement.
2. MAIN ASSUMPTIONS
Main assumptions in SpaceBolt™ (v.1.9):
- Only concentric joints are considered
- The flanges are considered to be cylindrical
- The chamfers are ignored
- The material parameters are assumed to be
temperature independent
These assumptions are valid in most real life applications Figure 3. Preload definition interface
without significant penalties in accuracy. In order to
address the loading eccentricity, the bending moments 3.2. Batch (load table) calculations
are transformed into the additional axial bolt force:
𝑀𝐵 Bolt verification for a typical space structure is associated
𝐹𝐴,𝑢𝑝𝑑 = |𝐹𝐴 | + | | with the large set of calculations due to the following:
0.5𝐷𝐾
- The structure usually includes a number of bolt
where
groups (e.g. for the satellite structure the number of
- 𝐹𝐴,𝑢𝑝𝑑 – resulting axial force
bolt groups can reach several hundred)
- 𝑀𝐵 – bending moment - The structure needs to be verified for the set of
- 𝐹𝐴 – axial bolt force environments resulting in the multiple load cases
- 𝐷𝐾 – diameter of the compression cone. (often thousands of load cases).
3. CALCULATION ASPECTS The bolt forces are recovered from the NASTRAN
A comprehensive description of the calculation PUNCH file (either static SOL101 or dynamic SOL111)
procedures implemented in SpaceBolt™ is provided in containing MPCFORCE or ELFORCE output for
the reference manual [4]. In this paper some space related CBUSH elements. Alternatively, CSV table can be used
aspects are addressed. as the input ensuring compatibility with any FEA solver.
The tool also allows superposition of the forces using the
3.1. Preload load factors tables.
SpaceBolt™ allows calculation of the bolts tightened
using the torque wrench and the torsion-free methods.
Since the preload plays a dominant role in the bolt
verification process, there are several methods of the
preload control available in the tool:
- Bolt material utilization on tightening
- Bolt material utilization on max preload
- Applied torque (with or without consideration of the
prevailing torque)
Preload definition interface depicted in Fig. 3 allows
quick assessment of the applied torque and the resulting
preload force. Details about the calculated preload are
summarized in the analysis report generated by the tool
(Fig. 2). Figure 4. Margin of safety summary for the bolt group
In the session file the user defines the bolt groups and
association between the groups and the elements in the
FEM. SpaceBolt™ performs the calculation for each
Figure 2. Preload definition interface requested element and each load realization and
aggregates the worst-case results indicating the worst-
case element leading to the minimum margin of safety 2.4. Fracture control outputs (NASGRO)
and corresponding load case as shown in Fig. 4.
To support fracture analysis for the critical interfaces,
SpaceBolt™ provides the unitary stress outputs which
This calculation approach helps to significantly reduce
can be combined with the load spectrum in order to
the efforts during the verification while reducing the
generate the fatigue stress spectrum compatible with
conservatisms or possible mistakes during the loads
NASGRO™. The steps are schematically shown in
enveloping traditionally performed during these tasks.
Fig. 6.
In case the calculation results for all bolts in the particular
bolt groups are required, SpaceBolt™ generates the CSV
table with all loads and corresponding margins of safety
for each bolt and load cases for the bolt groups selected
by the user.
3.3. Sliding
The majority of the interfaces in the space structures
work as a friction grip carrying the shear load. Therefore,
sliding verification is an important aspect during the bolt Figure 6. Fracture control output steps
verification. Margin of safety on sliding is calculated
using the following equation: Unitary stresses are generated for the following crack
(𝐹𝑉 − (1 − 𝛷)𝐹𝐴 ) ∙ 𝜇𝑆 ∙ 𝑞 models (in accordance with NASGRO nomenclature):
𝑀𝑜𝑆 = −1
𝐹𝑄 ∙ 𝑆𝐹 - Bolt shank (SC07, SC14)
Where - Male thread (SC08)
- 𝐹𝑉 – preload force - Female thread (SC09)
- 𝛷 – bolt force ratio - Bolt head fillet (SC07, SC14)
- 𝐹𝐴 – axial bolt force
- 𝜇𝑆 – assembly friction 3.4. Flange information and simplifications
- 𝑞 – number of shear force transmitting interfaces SpaceBolt™ offers two methods of flange information
- 𝐹𝑄 – shear force input: the user can input information for each flange
- 𝑆𝐹 – safety factors. individually (material, dimensions) as shown in Fig. 7 or
provide averaged flange parameters as shown in Fig. 8.
Slip resistance of the interface greatly depends on the
preload force 𝐹𝑉 , however its actual realization is not
known. In case if the bolt group is composed of only one
or several bolts, minimum preload shall be used for the
verification. In certain situations, when the bolt group has
many bolts, it is possible to reduce the conservatism by
considering nominal preload for the verification. This
preload is calculated assuming average friction
coefficients in the thread and under the bolt head. This
approach can be justified when it is demonstrated that the
slippage of an individual bolt only leads to a
redistribution of the total shear force but does not cause
an overall interface slippage nor lead to other failure
modes. In this case the verification can be performed
based on the averaged total shear force. This verification
is available as a module to the SpaceBolt™ which
calculates the resultant shear force for each bolt group
and performs the sliding verification assuming the shear Figure 7. Detailed flange input
force is uniformly redistributed among the bolts in the
bolt group.
Figure 5. Average shear force sliding verification report Figure 8. Simplified flange input
When the detailed flange input is provided, SpaceBolt™
calculates force ratio values and margins of safety for 3. NASGRO Fracture Mechanics and Fatigue Crack
each flange individually (Fig. 9). Growth Analysis Software. Reference manual
(2016). Southwest Research Institute.
4. SpaceBolt™ user manual (2017). Space
Structures GmbH.
5. TEC-MSS/2016/588/ln/MST. SpaceBolt technical
Feedback.
Figure 9. Flange verification output
Such output is especially helpful when assessing the
strength of the delicate materials such as INVAR.
4. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK
SpaceBolt™ is the only commercially available software
for the bolt verification according to ECSS-E-HB-32-
23A. It allows significant reduction of the verification
cycle duration while increasing the robustness of the
process and improving the documentation of the results.
This tool is useful for a wide range of the applications:
from the MGSE (mechanical ground support equipment)
verification up to satellite and launcher structures
verification. Features such as torque-free tightening and
fracture control outputs are especially useful for the
optical instrument developers.
SpaceBolt™ is constantly being developed based on the
customer feedback and general needs. The main focus
during further developments will be dedicated to further
improvement of the user experience and the modules,
allowing the engineers to investigate the problems with
the fasteners faster and more effectively.
Other development vectors include further integration
with ESALOAD and other packages for the optimization
of the verification process, consideration of the
eccentricity, and command line interfaces etc. More
details about the software can be found on
https://spacebolt.de/.
REFERENCES
1. VDI-2230 (2015), Systematic calculation of highly
stressed bolted joints.
2. ECSS-E-HB-32-23A (2010), Threaded fasteners
handbook. ECSS Secretariat. ESA-ESTEC.
Requirements & Standards Division. Noordwijk,
The Netherlands.
