Tension stress is defined as?

• A. Pulling force which tends to separate bolt head or threads from grip length
• B. Force that tends to shear across grip length
• C. Torque causing rotation
• D. Compressive force on the bolt

Answer: (A)

Tension stress in a bolt is the axial force that tends to pull the joint apart along the bolt’s axis. This causes the bolt to elongate and resists the tendency of the bolt head or the threaded portion to separate from the grip length. In a bolted connection, the parts are clamped together, creating compression in the joined faces, while the bolt itself carries the tensile load that tries to pull the head away from the grip. That pulling-apart action is exactly what defines tension stress.

The other concepts describe different kinds of loading: shear would act parallel to the grip and try to slide the parts past one another; torque refers to twisting the bolt, not pulling it axially; and the bolt can experience compression in some circumstances, but the stress that tries to lengthen the bolt and separate the head from the grip is tension.