You must have seen a disc-shaped material piece having a hole in the center often attached with bolts. They are called washers, which are typically used for distributing the load of the bolt more evenly so that the joined workpiece may remain protected from damage.
Before driving a bolt into a certain workpiece, a washer must be placed at the bolt’s top end where it meets the head. The purpose of this washer is to absorb the compression forces exerted on the bolt as it will be driven into the workpiece.
There can be several varieties of washers right from stainless AN960 flat washers to lock washers. Let us try to know a little more about different types of washers in this post.
Table of Contents
Flat washer
A flat washer is the most typical kind of washer. Their surname comes from a flat design. Flat washers are not protruding or curled. Instead, they have a smooth surface on both sides. They distribute loads very well because of their flat form.
Without a washer, the underside of a bolt’s head will be subjected to the compressive stresses of the bolt. These compressive forces are absorbed by a flat washer, which then disperses them more evenly.
Common materials used in these flat washers are the following:
- Stainless steel
- High-carbon steel
- Brass
- Copper
Hardened flat washers
These are washers that can withstand higher pressure and are mostly used while using bolts with the strength of Grade 5 and above. They are placed between the target component and the bolt head.
They are constructed of carbon steel and can be either through-hardened to RC 38–45 or carburized to a necessary depth of.015″. Their surface hardness ranges from RC 37–45, while their minimum core hardness is RC 30.
Unhardened flat washers
These are intended to be assembled between the bearing surface of a fastener and the component to which it is attached using bolts or tapping screws of Grade 2 or lower strength.
Depending on the appropriate outside diameter required, specifications are offered for both narrow (SAE) and broad (USS) flat washers.
Lock Washer
A lock washer often referred to as a split washer, is a unique kind of washer that is made to increase tension so that the bolt does not get free or otherwise depart from its fitted location. Lock washers are not rounded. They have a semi-coiled shape that rises over time. Lock washers can produce stress when inserted thanks to this design.
Lock the washer’s function by limiting the installed bolt’s ability to rotate. Nuts are also frequently utilized for this. A nut, when fastened to the end of a bolt, can prevent it from losing. Nuts are problematic because they are prone to vibrations.
A nut may loosen when subjected to vibrations. A nut may not be able to hold the bolt in the threaded hole of the workpiece if it loosens too much. The bolt won’t, however, disengage with a lock washer. The bolt will be “locked” in the workpiece’s threaded hole by a lock washer.
