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Residual Torque - How To Test A Screw Already Tightened

The document discusses different methods for measuring residual torque on tightened screws to evaluate joint quality control. The preferred method is breakaway torque testing using a digital torque wrench equipped with torque and gyro sensors to automatically detect when the screw starts rotating and measure the residual torque. An alternative method is loosen-tighten testing where the screw is loosened slightly and then retightened to detect the torque level. Minimum torque checking can also be done quickly with a digital wrench to verify a screw reaches the minimum torque within a small rotation angle.

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Ujjayini Dasgupta
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209 views5 pages

Residual Torque - How To Test A Screw Already Tightened

The document discusses different methods for measuring residual torque on tightened screws to evaluate joint quality control. The preferred method is breakaway torque testing using a digital torque wrench equipped with torque and gyro sensors to automatically detect when the screw starts rotating and measure the residual torque. An alternative method is loosen-tighten testing where the screw is loosened slightly and then retightened to detect the torque level. Minimum torque checking can also be done quickly with a digital wrench to verify a screw reaches the minimum torque within a small rotation angle.

Uploaded by

Ujjayini Dasgupta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Residual torque – How to test a screw already tightened

Tighten a junction properly is a fundamental step in ensuring the quality of a


production process.

At the end of the production line, there is a crucial step that needs to be done for a
complete quality control system: the measurement of residual torque.

Choosing the correct tightening strategy ensures that the joint has been tightened to
specification, but what happens at the junction after the tightening remains unknown.
How much of the preload applied is left inside the junction?

To evaluate the residual torque on the joint requires a tool (for example digital torque
wrench) featuring one or more residual torque check strategies. The data must tracked
in a database with a management software producing statistical analysis and reports,
preventing errors with statistical process control.

BREAKAWAY TORQUE / ANGLE


The breakaway is the preferred method for the measurement of residual torque.

With this strategy, a digital torque wrench applies torque to rotate the screw further,
and measures the torque at the point where the screw starts moving.
To accomplish this test the digital torque wrench must be equipped with a torque
sensor and a gyroscope for angle measurement, with an algorithm of automatic
recognition of the breakaway and residual torque in both cases shown above.

Some wrenches models offer strategies for detection of residual torque using an
algorithm torque / time instead of torque angle. The measurement obtained with this
methodology is influenced by the action of the operator and therefore less objective,
less repeatable and less reliable.

Before the development of methods and intelligent digital torque wrenches, the
breakaway at peak or at angle, providing a valid measurement but less objective than
the automatic recognition.

In fact, the torque peak is influenced by the operator, while the torque angle requires a
precise knowledge of the mechanics of the joint and setting the correct parameters of
the test:
LOOSEN – TIGHTEN
Measure the residual torque by the breakaway method implies a possible over
tightening of the joint under test (even if, in general, the residual torque is less than the
tightening torque, so it is likely that the test of residual torque does not exceed the
nominal value).

To avoid the risk of over tightening, or in special applications with very big screws, it is
preferable to use the loosen-tighten method: Loosening the coupling a few degrees
(for example 10, but depends on the characteristic torque / angle of the joint), and
detecting the torque to screw it back to the original position.

In the past, the position of the screw was traced with a marker, before performing the
test manually:
MINIMUM TORQUE CHECK
Some car manufacturers re-tighten the screws already tightened with an click-wrench.
If the wrench clicks without rotating, it means that the joint did not lost clamping force
after the tightening operation.

This method provides just a OK – Not OK result, not measuring (and not tracing), the
value of the residual torque. In addition, using a click-wrench, there is always the risk of
producing an over tightening during this operation.

With a digital torque wrench with a gyro it is possible to make a quick check of the
tightening, (no measurement of residual torque), applying torque and verifying to
reach a certain value (typically the minimum tightening torque) within a certain angle
rotation (typically very small). In this way, the control is fast and automatic, and a
possible over tightening can be detected directly from the torque wrench.

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