Question

You Preload a bolt to 200 lbs Pull plates apart with 100 lbs Assuming an infinitely stiff joint What happens to the preload on the bolt? Handle 100 100

Answer 1

Well, at the first glance you will be able to notice that the entire system is almost symmetric from the center if the shadow is taken. It is said that the plates are intact and the joint (the nut and bolt part) is very much stiff. So from this we could say that the weight could be evenly distributed.

Now lets talk about the nut and bolt part. The bolt is inserted into the plates from the right and a nut is tightened from the left on the other end of the bolt. This keeps the plates intact. This means the nut and bolt are a part of a single system now.The plates, the nut and the bolt are now a single system. All intact.

Now imagine pulling the system towards the right with the handle of plate 1. You could easily imagine that the entire system moves towards the right. This means that the plate 2 is been pulled along towards the right since the nut and bolt are intact. The force is experienced on the nut to push the plate 2 towards the right at this point.

In the same way , imagine pulling the handle of plate 2 towards left. Plate 1 will be pulled along since the nut and bolt are intact. When pulled towards left, A force is experienced on the head pf the bolt to push plate 1 along.

This means equal forces are experienced on both sides of the nut and bolt. Plate 1 is 100 lbs and so plate 2 experiences the same force on it and vice versa since they are symmetric.

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I hope the explanation helps... Feel free to comment and discuss further... Cheers :)