Hi. I'm struggling to get realistic results when using a bolted connection in a static study that incorporates a temperature load.
Essentially I'm attempting to bolt two metal plates to a metal block, which all have a temperature load of 150C applied to them. I have uploaded a simplified model which demonstrates the problem that I'm having. I've run the analysis with no temperature load and everything looks fine, however as soon as I introduce temperature the stresses go through the roof! Any help or advice would be much appreciated.
Rob.
See this thread https://forum.solidworks.com/message/107583#107583
Basically the bolt connectors are not affected by a temperature load. So the metal plates and block expand with temperature but the bolts do not. In reality the bolts heat up too and would also expand.
My advice is to use a simplified model of the bolts that you preload using a shrink fit contact. The bolts will then be affected by the heat load along with the metal plates and block.