Analysis of deformation of thin-walled steel tubes under clamping force during threaded joint assembly and disassembly using the finite element method

Abstract

Threaded joints on thin-walled steel tubes are widely used in industrial applications, where repeated assembly and disassembly may lead to local deformation and strength degradation. This study employs the Finite Element Method (FEM) to analyze the stress–strain behavior of a thin-walled steel tube under combined clamping and torsional loads. Nonlinear contact with friction and material plasticity were considered to simulate realistic boundary conditions. The results indicate that stress concentration occurs mainly at the thread root and clamp–tube contact region. Plastic deformation begins when the clamping force exceeds 2 kN. Based on numerical results, a safe clamping limit and design recommendations are proposed to prevent yielding and ensure structural reliability.