Stud Bolt

Bolts ยท stud bolt ยท continuous thread stud ยท flange stud

Definition: A stud bolt is a headless, fully threaded fastener used with two nuts to join flanged connections, most often in piping and pressure vessels.

Anatomy

Stud Bolt
โ–  Headโ–  Shankโ–  Threadsโ–  Point

Governing standards: ASME B18.31.2 ยท ASTM A193

Common Sizes

InchMetricHead widthHead height
1/2-13M12โ€”2โ€“12 long
3/4-10M20โ€”3โ€“18 long
1-8M24โ€”4โ€“24 long

Representative sizes. Full dimensional data lives in the standards listed below.

Grades & Strength

GradeMaterialTensile (psi)Marking
B7Cr-Mo alloy steel, Q&T125,000B7 stamped
B8304 stainless, strain-hardened75,000B8 stamped
B16Cr-Mo-V alloy steel125,000B16 for high temp

Materials

  • B7 alloy steel
  • B8 stainless steel
  • B16 alloy steel

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Even clamping around a flange
  • Easy to replace without disturbing the flange
  • Standardized grades for temperature and pressure

Cons

  • Two nuts to torque per stud
  • Corrosion on exposed thread ends
  • Requires correct engagement on both ends

Typical Uses

  • Pipe flanges and valve bodies
  • Pressure vessels
  • Heat exchangers
  • Pumps and compressors

Alternatives & Related

Where to Buy

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FAQ

Stud bolt vs threaded rod?

A stud bolt is an engineered flange fastener with specified grades (B7/B8) and thread lengths; threaded rod is general-purpose all-thread. Use stud bolts for piping and pressure work.

What is B7 stud bolt?

A chromium-molybdenum alloy steel stud, quenched and tempered, rated for high-temperature service and standard for ASME flanged joints.

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