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Heavy vehicles such as construction machinery generally require a large traction force. For this reason, axle components are equipped with a final reduction gear to provide a structure that can generate a large traction force. Basic analysis of vertical load, horizontal load (traction force), centrifugal force, and torsional torque applied to the wheels of heavy vehicles such as construction machinery and industrial vehicles, as well as actual working load analysis during actual operations, were conducted and compiled into a load analysis diagram. The loosening tendency of wheel bolts and nuts that fasten the wheel under actual working load was measured, and the loosening analysis method was presented. The causes of wheel fall-off accidents in heavy trucks, which have recently become a problem, were examined. Wheel bolts are generally tightened by the calibrated wrench method using a torque wrench.

The calibrated wrench method is used in the tightening of bolts in manufacturing industries in the case of a large amount of tightening work. It is important to apply a large initial clamping force to ensure tightening reliability and prevent self-loosening, fatigue breakage, and so forth. In this method, the clamping force of bolted joints is controlled using a torque wrench. However, since the clamping force is indirectly applied by a wrench, it varies greatly in the case of a large amount of tightening in a factory. Therefore, the calibrated wrench method is not so accurate from the viewpoint of clamping force control. It is conventionally thought that the distribution of the clamping force has the shape of a rhombus. When tightening torque and clamping force are considered to be two independent random variables, the clamping force is distributed within an elliptical confidence limit. Here, we show that the distribution of equivalent stress also has an elliptical confidence limit.

To secure the reliability of bolted joints, high clamping force (axial tension) is required to prevent fatigue breakage or loosening failure, and so on. In this paper, at first, we observe the behavior of the initial clamping force decrease tendency (loosening phenomenon) obtained by tightening the bolt used in the actual machine (large forklift) during operation. Based on our previous research, there is a strong linear relationship on log-log paper of loosening phenomenon between decrease tendency of clamping force and distance travelled (or passage of time). By utilizing its properties, we show estimation method of residual clamping force such as "How much the clamping force is remaining after the tens of thousands of hours (kilometers)?" Also, a method for estimating loosening lifetime with respect to residual clamping force level is shown. Finally, we examine evaluation criteria such as "Is the residual clamping force sufficient for prevention of loosening failure?"

In this study, we propose a method of measuring and analyzing the load on bolted joints used in a machine under off-road vehicle operation. Working load measurement under actual machine operation and the results of its analysis are shown as load frequency diagrams. An example of the measurement analysis of a load (three types of load: axial force, bending moment, and torsional torque) added to a bolted joint shank during actual machine operation is shown. In this paper, we describe how to apply the results of load analysis to the load condition at the design and experimental development stages.

This investigation describes a method for estimating the absolute lock effect in bolted joint. Observation results of loosening phenomenon in industrial vehicle are analyzed for the linear relation by the proposed regression formula. Based on the relation, in early stages of the development test, the rate of clamping force decrease can be estimated accurately after prolonged operation by measuring the clamping force behavior. The tendency to decrease is observed about the depression type and working load type loosening. For evaluation design bases, the residual clamping force estimation chart is established. The L-N (Loosening Lifetime - Number of Cycles to Loosening N) diagram is proposed for the loosening lifetime prediction for working load type loosening also. Using the loosening damage (cumulative decrease of clamping force) and L-N diagram, the lifetime to loosening failure can be predicted accurately for the locking device and method as an absolute evaluation.