136. Design of Lightweight Structural Threaded Fasteners

Paper

Abstract

This paper concerns general purpose aircraft standard structural bolts, screws and nuts, which because of their relatively small size are sometimes overlooked by design engineers when attempting to reduce airplane weight. These small items, however, are literally ‘used by the thousands’ throughout the airplane and collectively their size and weight are a considerable factor.
In order to appreciate the progress which has taken place in the last few years in the design of these threaded fasteners, it is desirable first to go back a very few years to approximately 1950 and review briefly the heavyweight parts which were then being employed to hold our airplanes together.