Influence of elastic and plastic contact models on the overall thermal resistance of bolted joints

A bolted joint, which operates in vacuum is analyzed in this work. A resistance network, composed of material, contact and constriction resistances is presented for the overall thermal resistance of bolted joints. Thermal stress theory is used to determine contact stress variations with temperature level. Dimensional and non-dimensional forms of the thermal resistances and of the thermal stress models are given. Two contact resistance models, one based on the elastic and the other on the plastic deformation of contacting asperities, are used and their impact on the overall thermal resistance is studied.