The latest in structural integrity of fasteners, including manufacturing processes, methods and models for predicting crack initiation and propagation, fatigue and fracture experiments, structural integrity analysis and failure analysis is presented in 14 peer-reviewed papers.

Four main areas of focus examine: failure approaches, fatigue and fracture, analysis techniques and testing procedures.

Failure mechanisms are discussed in four papers covering real applications of fasteners from assembly process of a hybrid nylon and steel agricultural wheel to high strength failures in steel components. Issues such as design inadequacy and life prediction methodologies under bending loads are also addressed.

Three papers highlight fatigue crack growth state-of-the-art methodology, including testing and analytical techniques. An experimental program to investigate the effect of fasteners on the fatigue life of fiber reinforced composites that are used extensively in the industry discusses the failure mode of these composites. Additional papers discuss experimental results of low alloy steel fasteners subjected to simultaneous bending and axial loads; and cracks in threaded fasteners.

Current analysis techniques used to evaluate the structural integrity of fasteners are discussed in three papers including one addressing the breaking load method, which is a residual strength method that was used in assessment of stress corrosion in high strength steel fasteners. Measuring thread lap behavior and stress intensity factor solutions are also addressed.

Four papers examine testing procedures including the criterion for lifetime acceptance test limits for larger diameter rolled threaded fasteners in accordance with the aerospace tension fatigue acceptance criteria for rolled threads. In addition, there is discussion of an experimental technique to evaluate fatigue crack growth in preflawed bolt shanks under tension loads.

Also included is an up-to-date bibliography giving references on stress intensity factor solutions related to fasteners application under axial and bending loading.