The COSMOS Companion

Modeling Connectors - Pins

Sponsored by:

Volume 109

Image courtesy of National Optical Astronomy

Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities
for Research in Astronomy, under cooperative
agreement with the National Science Foundation.

What is the COSMOS Companion?

The COSMOS Companion is a series of short subjects to
help design engineers build better products with SolidWorks
Analysis
Video presentations and accompanying exercises
A tool for Continuous Learning on your schedule
Pre-recorded videos are accompanied by a more detailed
webcast with Q & A
Download videos and review webcast schedule at:
http://www.cosmosm.com/pages/news/COSMOS_Companion.html

It is not an alternative to instructor-led introductory training

We highly recommend you take a course with your local reseller to
build a solid knowledge base

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Presentation Agenda
Overview of Pinned Joints
The Pin Connector in COSMOSWorks
Inherent Assumptions in a Pin Connector
Using Pin Connectors for Long Fasteners
Pin Joint Failure Analysis

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Pinned Joints
Fastener loads are an important output of a Finite Element
model
Simple to calculate on simple problems
As problem grows in complexity, ability to estimate fastener loads
manually diminishes
F
L/2

L
F/2

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

F/2

Assumptions in Pinned or Riveted Joint Design

1. The load is carried equally by all fasteners
2. No combined stresses are acting on the fastener
3. Shearing stress is uniform across cross-section
4. The load that would cause failure in single shear is half the
load for double shear failure
5. The bearing stress between fastener and plate is
distributed equally over the projected area of the fastener
6. The tensile stress is uniform in the section of metal
between the fastener

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Assumptions in Pinned or Riveted Joint Design

1. The load is carried equally by all fasteners

Not a required assumption with COSMOSWorks Pin Connector

2. No combined stresses are acting on the fastener

Not a required assumption with COSMOSWorks Pin Connector

3. Shearing stress is uniform across cross-section

Still required with COSMOSWorks Pin Connector

4. The load that would cause failure in single shear is half the load for
double shear failure

Still required with COSMOSWorks Pin Connector

5. The bearing stress between fastener and plate is distributed equally

over the projected area of the fastener

Not a required assumption with COSMOSWorks Pin Connector

6. The tensile stress is uniform in the section of metal between the

fastener

Not a required assumption with COSMOSWorks Pin Connector

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Pin Connectors in COSMOSWorks

Idealize generic cylindrical fasteners
Typically, riveted or pinned connections
An alternative to bolted joints w/o preload

Cylindrical faces are each rigidly tied to a central point

The central point of each is then linked with a spring-like
entity
User can control axial and torsional spring stiffness, K
K = 0; Free to translate or rotate
K = ; Fixed in translation or rotation
0 < K < ; Some user defined stiffness is applied
Beam or Spring

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Pin Connector Properties

Pins can only connect two (2) parts
ALL faces must be coaxial
Can choose multiple holes from same
part for each set but all faces in a set
must have the same radius
No Translation Fixes axial
translation
No Rotation Fixes rotation about
axis

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Pin Connector Properties

Elastic Pin
If translation and/or rotation is allowed,
elastic options are available
Estimate spring stiffnesses (K) based on
actual pin geometry
Linear Stiffness of Rod in Tension

Linear Stiffness of Rod in Torsion

K = AE/L

K = JG/L

A = Cross-Sectional Area
E = Material Youngs Mod
L = Free Length

J = Polar Moment of Inertia = 2I

I = Moment of Inertia = (r4)/4
G = Modulus of Rigidity
E=2G(1-) : = Poissons Ratio
L = Free Length

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Pin Connector Results

RMB Stress Results folder to access Pin/Bolt Forces

Can only view results on one pin at a time
Save writes an Excel CSV file for displayed Pin
Watch where you write the Save data out to
2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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Pin Connector Guidelines

Solid or non-crushing fasteners
Pin will not bend
Each face maintains its original cylindrical shape
All faces defining Pin remain coaxial
Short fasteners with no shank/hole interaction
Symmetry thru pin:
Never thru diameter
Avoid thru length

Line-to-Line Fit
No Clearance
No Press Fit

Make sure Global Contact is No Penetration or individually define contact on

adjacent faces or theyll bond and pins will not see any load
As of version 2006, Pin Connectors have a mass that is not directly tied to the pin
hole size. For gravity or acceleration loading, check model mass and reactions
2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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Pin Connector Guidelines

Solid or non-crushing fasteners
Pin will not bend
Each face maintains its original cylindrical shape
All faces defining Pin remain coaxial
Short fasteners with no shank/hole interaction
Symmetry thru pin:
Never thru diameter
Avoid thru length

Line-to-Line Fit
No Clearance
No Press Fit

Make sure Global Contact is No Penetration or individually define contact on

adjacent faces or theyll bond and pins will not see any load
As of version 2006, Pin Connectors have a mass that is not directly tied to the pin
hole size. For gravity or acceleration loading, check model mass and reactions
2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

12

Long Pin Example

Bending of the Pin is expected

Soft Spring Connectors

Eliminate Rigid Body Motion
2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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Long Pin Example

Modeling Options
Model the actual solid pin with contact conditions
Use one Connector to capture entire pin
With and without axial translation

Use one Connector per side

With and without axial translation

Remember for a Single Connector Each set must have

faces from only one part
2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

14

Long Pin Results

Summary of Options & Results
1) 0.0031

2) 0.0026

3) 0.0023

4) 0.0038

5) 0.0039

Solid Pin

One Pin
Connector

One Pin
Connector

Two Pin
Connectors

Two Pin
Connectors

No Translation
Allowed

Translation
Allowed

No Translation
Allowed

Translation
Allowed

No Penetration
Contact
No Friction

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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Long Pin Summary

More flexible pins

Long and/or thin pins

Ends not fixed to body
Flexure of bodies control pin deformation
It will be difficult to validate the response of a Pin without building test
models of the actual fastener.

More rigid pins

Short and/or wide pins

Ends fixed to body
Flexure (or lack thereof) of pin controls body deformation
Using one Connector to attach length of pin may yield acceptable
results

Where is the transition point?

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

16

Evaluating Pin Failure

Common Causes of Pin Joint Failure
Failure of Fastener
Shearing thru one cross-section (Single Shear)
Shearing thru two cross-sections (Dbl Shear)
Crushing (Hollow Pins and Rivets)

Failure of Bearing Plate

Shearing or tearing of the plate from the hole
This failure can typically be avoided by placing the fastener 1.5 times the
fastener diameter from plate edge

Crushing of the plate

Tearing between adjacent fasteners

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

17

Evaluating Pin Failure

Properly sized Pins are assumed
to undergo only shear loading
Shear strength (Ss) of pins and
rivets are typically indicated by
codes such as ANSI, AISC, or
ASME
Working stresses are typically
1/5 the ultimate shear stress
specified

Source:

Machinerys Handbook 23rd Edition

Industrial Press, Inc. New York, NY

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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Evaluating Pin Failure

Are Pin Connector results valid for estimating pin failure?
Reported Shear Loads can be compared directly to tabulated max
shear loads for pin sizing
Due to rigid hole assumptions, applicability for failure of bearing plate
requires some additional investigation

d
F

D
2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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Evaluating Pin Failure - Double Shear

Exploded View

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Solid Pin

Connector

20

Evaluating Pin Failure - Single Shear

Exploded View

Solid Pin
2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

Connector
21

Evaluating Pin Failure

Pin Connectors can be used to determine acceptability of a
fastener by comparing reported axial, shear, and bending
loads to published allowables for the fastener type being
considered
Pin Connectors are not affected by the diameter of the hole so
specing a larger fastener will not affect the results as calculated

Pin Connectors should not be used to evaluate plate or base

material failure at or near the connector
If this is important, use a solid fastener representation with contact

If component failure can be affected by local fastener

compliance, estimate the local fastener stiffness and include
that in the Pin Connector definition
2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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Presentation Summary
In this COSMOS Companion unit, we explored:
The use of Pin Connectors to represent generic cylindrical
fasteners
Inherent assumptions for a Pin Connector
A comparison of Pin Connector results with explicitly
modeled fasteners
Several test models for validation of Pin Connectors for your
specific problems

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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Conclusion
For more information
Contact your local reseller for more in-depth training or support on
using Connectors and modeling bolted joints
Review the on-line help for a more detailed description of the features
discussed
Attend, or better yet, present at a local COSMOS or SolidWorks user
group.
See http://www.swugn.org/ for a user group near you

References on pinned joints:

Machinerys Handbook; Industrial Press, Inc.; New York, NY
Stock Drive Products www.sdp-si.com

2006 SolidWorks Corp. Confidential.

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