Impact of bolt positioning on the stiffness of angular support brackets

Bolts and screws are usually preferred over other joining techniques when assembly and disassembly operations are required. However, they add extra weight to the system, so it is essential to reduce their size and weight by optimizing bolt parameters. Additionally, the stiffness of bolted members is very crucial; those with low stiffness may affect the correct functioning of the other connected components. This study focuses on the impact produced by bolt positions, specifically their center of gravity and spacing among them, on the stiffness of angular L-shaped brackets using Finite Element Analysis. Bending and torsional loads were applied to the free end of the member and deformations were recorded under these loads. The results revealed that a triangular bolt pattern is recommended for three bolts, whereas for four or more bolts, the pattern should be uniform to avoid stress concentrations. Moreover, the center of gravity and bolt spacing have a significant impact on stiffness. By optimizing bolt spacing and the center of gravity, a combination of six bolts can be replaced with four bolts of the same size while maintaining the same stiffness.