Does a tensile load place the load at right angles to the fastener?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends
• D. Not specified

Answer: (B)

When a bolted joint is loaded in tension, the force tends to pull the two plates apart along their length. The fastener then carries this load mainly as axial tension along its own axis, not as a force perpendicular to the bolt. A load would be perpendicular to the bolt (causing shear) only in a situation where the joint is being sheared, i.e., the plates slide relative to each other. So, a tensile load does not place the load at right angles to the fastener; it typically acts along the fastener’s axis.