AIRCRAFT MATERIALS

AND CONSTRUCTIONS
AMT 1103
AIRCRAFT FASTENER
THIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF AIRCRAFT FASTENER USED IN
AVIATION.

MODULE SIMPLY ANSWERS THE QUESTION “HOW ARE AIRCRAFT

COMPONENTS AND MATERIALS JOINED TOGETHER ?”

ASSESSMENT WILL BE GIVEN NEXT MEETING ON THE TOPIC WE

HAVE ON THIS MODULE.
BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THE THEORETICAL ASPECT AIRCRAFT
MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTIONS, LET’S FAMILIARIZE OURSELVES ON
DIFFERENT HARDWARE USED IN AVIATION.

SUCCEEDING SLIDES DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT HARDWARE USED IN AVIATION

 AIRCRAFT NUT
Aircraft nuts are made in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are made of
cadmium-plated carbon steel, stainless steel, or anodized 2024T aluminum
alloy and may be obtained with either right- or left-hand threads.
No identifying marking or lettering appears on nuts. Only the characteristic
metallic luster or color of the aluminum, brass, or the insert can identify
them when the nut is of the self-locking type.
They can be further identified by their construction.

As a general rule, nuts are manufactured from the same material as the bolt
or screw to which they are attached, with the exception of high-tensile steel
bolts, when mild steel nuts are used.
 AIRCRAFT NUT

AIRCRAFT NUTS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO GENERAL GROUPS:

A. NON-SELF-LOCKING – ARE THOSE THAT MUST BE SAFE TIED BY
EXTERNAL LOCKING DEVICES SUCH AS COTTER PINS, SAFETY
WIRE, OR LOCKNUTS
B. SELF-LOCKING NUTS - CONTAIN THE LOCKING FEATURE AS AN
INTEGRAL PART
NON-SELF-LOCKING NUT
 NON-SELF-LOCKING NUTS

CASTLE NUT (AN310) - IS USED WITH

DRILLED SHANK AN HEX HEAD BOLTS,
CLEVIS BOLTS, EYEBOLTS, DRILLED
HEAD BOLTS, OR STUDS.

IT IS RUGGED AND CAN WITHSTAND

LARGE TENSIONAL LOADS.

SLOTS (CALLED CASTELLATIONS) IN THE

NUT ARE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE A
COTTER PIN OR LOCK WIRE FOR SAFETY.
 NON-SELF-LOCKING NUTS
CASTELLATED SHEAR NUT (AN320) -
DESIGNED FOR USE WITH DEVICES,
SUCH AS DRILLED CLEVIS BOLTS AND
THREADED TAPER PINS, WHICH ARE
NORMALLY SUBJECTED TO SHEARING
STRESS ONLY.

LIKE THE CASTLE NUT, IT IS

CASTELLATED FOR SAFETYING. NOTE,
HOWEVER, THAT THE NUT IS NOT AS
DEEP OR AS STRONG AS THE CASTLE
NUT
 NON-SELF-LOCKING NUTS

PLAIN HEX NUT ( AN315 AND AN335) -

FINE AND COARSE THREAD - IS OF
RUGGED CONSTRUCTION.

THIS MAKES IT SUITABLE FOR CARRYING

LARGE TENSIONAL LOADS.

HOWEVER, SINCE IT REQUIRES AN

AUXILIARY LOCKING DEVICE, SUCH AS A
CHECK NUT OR LOCK WASHER, ITS USE
ON AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES IS
SOMEWHAT LIMITED.
 NON-SELF-LOCKING NUTS
LIGHT HEX NUT ( AN340 AND
AN345) - FINE AND COARSE
THREAD - IS A MUCH LIGHTER
NUT THAN THE PLAIN HEX NUT
AND MUST BE LOCKED BY AN
AUXILIARY DEVICE.

IT IS USED FOR MISCELLANEOUS

LIGHT TENSION REQUIREMENTS.
 NON-SELF-LOCKING NUTS

PLAIN CHECK NUT (AN316) -

EMPLOYED AS A LOCKING DEVICE
FOR PLAIN NUTS, SET SCREWS,
THREADED ROD ENDS, AND
OTHER DEVICES.

WING NUT (AN350) IS INTENDED

FOR USE WHERE THE DESIRED
TIGHTNESS CAN BE OBTAINED BY
HAND AND WHERE THE ASSEMBLY
IS FREQUENTLY REMOVED.
SELF-LOCKING NUT
 SELF-LOCKING NUT
AS THEIR NAME IMPLIES, SELF-LOCKING NUTS NEED NO AUXILIARY MEANS OF
SAFETYING BUT HAVE A SAFETYING FEATURE INCLUDED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF
THEIR CONSTRUCTION.
MANY TYPES OF SELF-LOCKING NUTS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND THEIR USE HAS
BECOME QUITE WIDESPREAD.
COMMON APPLICATIONS ARE:
• ATTACHMENT OF ANTIFRICTION BEARINGS AND CONTROL PULLEYS
• ATTACHMENT OF ACCESSORIES, ANCHOR NUTS AROUND INSPECTION HOLES,
AND SMALL TANK INSTALLATION OPENINGS
• ATTACHMENT OF ROCKER BOX COVERS AND EXHAUST STACKS
SELF-LOCKING NUTS ARE ACCEPTABLE FOR USE ON CERTIFICATED AIRCRAFT
SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE MANUFACTURER.
 SELF-LOCKING NUT
DO NOT USE SELF-LOCKING NUTS AT JOINTS, WHICH SUBJECT
EITHER THE NUT OR BOLT TO ROTATION.
THEY MAY BE USED WITH ANTIFRICTION BEARINGS AND CONTROL
PULLEYS, PROVIDED THE INNER RACE OF THE BEARING IS CLAMPED
TO THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE BY THE NUT AND BOLT.
PLATES MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE STRUCTURE IN A POSITIVE
MANNER TO ELIMINATE ROTATION OR MISALIGNMENT WHEN
TIGHTENING THE BOLTS OR SCREWS.
 SELF-LOCKING NUT
TWO TYPES OF SELF-LOCKING NUT
1. ALL-METAL TYPE –
BOOTS SELF-LOCKING NUT
STAINLESS STEEL SELF-LOCKING NUT
2. FIBER LOCK TYPE
 ELASTIC STOP NUT
 ALL METAL TYPE SELF-LOCKING
NUT

BOOTS SELF-LOCKING NUT

BOOTS SELF-LOCKING NUT IS OF ONE PIECE, ALL-METAL
CONSTRUCTION DESIGNED TO HOLD TIGHT DESPITE SEVERE
VIBRATION.
IT HAS TWO SECTIONS AND IS ESSENTIALLY TWO NUTS IN ONE: A
LOCKING NUT AND A LOAD-CARRYING NUT.
THE TWO SECTIONS ARE CONNECTED WITH A SPRING, WHICH IS AN
INTEGRAL PART OF THE NUT.
 ALL METAL TYPE SELF-LOCKING
NUT
BOOTS SELF-LOCKING NUT
THE SPRING KEEPS THE LOCKING AND LOAD-CARRYING SECTIONS
SUCH A DISTANCE APART THAT THE TWO SETS OF THREADS ARE OUT
OF PHASE OR SPACED SO THAT A BOLT, WHICH HAS BEEN SCREWED
THROUGH THE LOAD-CARRYING SECTION, MUST PUSH THE LOCKING
SECTION OUTWARD AGAINST THE FORCE OF THE SPRING TO ENGAGE
THE THREADS OF THE LOCKING SECTION PROPERLY.
ONLY A WRENCH APPLIED TO THE NUT LOOSENS IT. THE NUT CAN BE
REMOVED AND REUSED WITHOUT IMPAIRING ITS EFFICIENCY.
SELF-LOCKING NUT
SELF-LOCKING NUT/BASE NUT
ALL METAL TYPE SELF-LOCKING
NUT
STAINLESS STEEL SELF-LOCKING NUT
THE STAINLESS STEEL SELF-LOCKING NUT MAY BE SPUN ON AND OFF BY HAND AS
ITS LOCKING ACTION TAKES PLACES ONLY WHEN THE NUT IS SEATED AGAINST A
SOLID SURFACE AND TIGHTENED.
THE NUT CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS: A CASE WITH A BEVELED LOCKING SHOULDER
AND KEY AND A THREAD INSERT WITH A LOCKING SHOULDER AND SLOTTED
KEYWAY.
UNTIL THE NUT IS TIGHTENED, IT SPINS ON THE BOLT EASILY, BECAUSE THE
THREADED INSERT IS THE PROPER SIZE FOR THE BOLT.
HOWEVER, WHEN THE NUT IS SEATED AGAINST A SOLID SURFACE AND TIGHTENED,
THE LOCKING SHOULDER OF THE INSERT IS PULLED DOWNWARD AND WEDGED
AGAINST THE LOCKING SHOULDER OF THE CASE.
 ALL METAL TYPE SELF-LOCKING
NUT
STAINLESS STEEL SELF-
LOCKING NUT
THIS ACTION COMPRESSES THE THREADED INSERT
AND CAUSES IT TO CLENCH THE BOLT TIGHTLY.
THE CROSS-SECTIONAL VIEW IN THE NEXT SLIDE
SHOWS HOW THE KEY OF THE CASE FITS INTO THE
SLOTTED KEYWAY OF THE INSERT SO THAT WHEN
THE CASE IS TURNED, THE THREADED INSERT IS
TURNED WITH IT. NOTE THAT THE SLOT IS WIDER
THAN THE KEY.
THIS PERMITS THE SLOT TO BE NARROWED AND THE
INSERT TO BE COMPRESSED WHEN THE NUT IS
TIGHTENED.
FIBER LOCK TYPE SELF-LOCKING NUT
ELASTIC STOP NUT
THE ELASTIC STOP NUT IS A STANDARD NUT WITH THE HEIGHT INCREASED TO ACCOMMODATE
A FIBER LOCKING COLLAR.
THIS FIBER COLLAR IS VERY TOUGH AND DURABLE AND IS UNAFFECTED BY IMMERSION IN
HOT OR COLD WATER OR ORDINARY SOLVENTS, SUCH AS ETHER, CARBON TETRACHLORIDE,
OILS, AND GASOLINE.
IT WILL NOT DAMAGE BOLT THREADS OR PLATING.

FIBER LOCKING COLLAR IS NOT THREADED, AND ITS INSIDE DIAMETER IS SMALLER THAN THE
LARGEST DIAMETER OF THE THREADED PORTION OR THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF A
CORRESPONDING BOLT.
 FIBER LOCK TYPE SELF-LOCKING NUT

ELASTIC STOP NUT

WHEN THE NUT IS SCREWED ONTO A BOLT, IT ACTS
AS AN ORDINARY NUT UNTIL THE BOLT REACHES
THE FIBER COLLAR.
WHEN THE BOLT IS SCREWED INTO THE FIBER
COLLAR, HOWEVER, FRICTION (OR DRAG) CAUSES
THE FIBER TO BE PUSHED UPWARD. THIS CREATES A
HEAVY DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE LOAD
CARRYING PART AND AUTOMATICALLY THROWS THE
LOAD CARRYING SIDES OF THE NUT AND BOLT
THREADS INTO POSITIVE CONTACT.
FIBER LOCK TYPE SELF-LOCKING NUT
ELASTIC STOP NUT
AFTER THE BOLT HAS BEEN FORCED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FIBER COLLAR,
THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE REMAINS CONSTANT. THIS PRESSURE LOCKS AND
HOLDS THE NUT SECURELY IN PLACE EVEN UNDER SEVERE VIBRATION.
NORMALLY, ELASTIC STOP NUTS CAN BE USED MANY TIMES WITH COMPLETE SAFETY
AND WITHOUT DETRIMENT TO THEIR LOCKING EFFICIENCY.
WHEN REUSING ELASTIC STOP NUTS, BE SURE THE FIBER HAS NOT LOST ITS LOCKING
FRICTION OR BECOME BRITTLE.
IF A NUT CAN BE TURNED WITH THE FINGERS, REPLACE IT.
 SELF-LOCKING NUT BASE
SELF-LOCKING NUT BASES ARE MADE IN SEVERAL FORMS AND MATERIALS FOR
RIVETING AND WELDING TO AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE OR PARTS. CERTAIN
APPLICATIONS REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION OF SELF-LOCKING NUTS IN CHANNELS,
AN ARRANGEMENT THAT PERMITS THE ATTACHMENT OF MANY NUTS WITH ONLY A
FEW RIVETS.
THESE CHANNELS ARE TRACK-LIKE BASES WITH REGULARLY SPACED NUTS, WHICH
ARE EITHER REMOVABLE OR NON-REMOVABLE.
THE REMOVABLE TYPE CARRIES A FLOATING NUT THAT CAN BE SNAPPED IN OR OUT
OF THE CHANNEL, THUS MAKING POSSIBLE THE EASY REMOVAL OF DAMAGED NUTS.
NUTS, SUCH AS THE CLINCH-TYPE AND SPLINE-TYPE, DEPEND ON FRICTION FOR
THEIR ANCHORAGE AND ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR USE IN AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES.
SELF-LOCKING NUT BASE
FIBER LOCK TYPE SELF-LOCKING NUT
SHEET SPRING NUTS
SHEET SPRING NUTS, SUCH AS SPEED NUTS, ARE USED WITH STANDARD AND SHEET
METAL SELF-TAPPING SCREWS IN NON-STRUCTURAL LOCATIONS.
THEY FIND VARIOUS USES IN SUPPORTING LINE CLAMPS, CONDUIT CLAMPS,
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT, ACCESS DOORS, AND THE LIKE AND ARE AVAILABLE IN
SEVERAL TYPES.
SPEED NUTS ARE MADE FROM SPRING STEEL AND ARE ARCHED PRIOR TO
TIGHTENING. THIS ARCHED SPRING LOCK PREVENTS THE SCREW FROM WORKING
LOOSE.
THESE NUTS SHOULD BE USED ONLY WHERE ORIGINALLY USED IN THE FABRICATION
OF THE AIRCRAFT.
FIBER LOCK TYPE SELF-LOCKING NUT
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL WRENCHING NUTS
TWO COMMERCIAL TYPES OF HIGH-STRENGTH INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL WRENCHING
NUTS ARE AVAILABLE; THEY ARE THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL WRENCHING
ELASTIC STOP NUT AND THE UNBRAKO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL WRENCHING NUT.
BOTH ARE OF THE SELF-LOCKING TYPE, ARE HEAT TREATED, AND CAN CARRY HIGH-
STRENGTH BOLT TENSION LOADS.
 IDENTIFICATION AND CODES
PART NUMBERS DESIGNATE THE TYPE OF NUT.
THE COMMON TYPES AND THEIR RESPECTIVE PART NUMBERS ARE:
• PLAIN - AN315 AND AN335
• CASTLE - AN310
• PLAIN CHECK - AN316
• LIGHT HEX - AN340 AND AN345
• CASTELLATED SHEAR - AN320
 IDENTIFICATION AND CODES

THE PATENTED SELF-LOCKING TYPES ARE ASSIGNED PART

NUMBERS RANGING FROM MS20363 THROUGH MS20367.
THE BOOTS, THE FLEXLOC, THE FIBER LOCKNUT, THE ELASTIC
STOP NUT, AND THE SELF-LOCKING NUT BELONG TO THIS
GROUP.
PART NUMBER AN350 IS ASSIGNED TO THE WING NUT.
 IDENTIFICATION AND CODES
LETTERS AND DIGITS FOLLOWING THE PART NUMBER INDICATE SUCH ITEMS AS
MATERIAL, SIZE, THREADS PER INCH, AND WHETHER THE THREAD IS RIGHT OR LEFT
HAND. THE LETTER “B” FOLLOWING THE PART NUMBER INDICATES THE NUT
MATERIAL TO BE BRASS, A “D” INDICATES 2017-T ALUMINUM ALLOY, A “DD”
INDICATES 2024-T ALUMINUM ALLOY, A “C” INDICATES STAINLESS STEEL, AND A DASH
IN PLACE OF A LETTER INDICATES CADMIUM-PLATED CARBON STEEL.
THE DIGIT (OR TWO DIGITS) FOLLOWING THE DASH OR THE MATERIAL CODE LETTER
IS THE DASH NUMBER OF THE NUT, AND IT INDICATES THE SIZE OF THE SHANK AND
THREADS PER INCH OF THE BOLT ON WHICH THE NUT FITS. THE DASH NUMBER
CORRESPONDS TO THE FIRST FIGURE APPEARING IN THE PART NUMBER CODING OF
GENERAL PURPOSE BOLTS.
 IDENTIFICATION AND CODES
A DASH AND THE NUMBER 3, FOR EXAMPLE, INDICATE THAT THE
NUT FITS AN AN3 BOLT (10-32); A DASH AND THE NUMBER 4 MEANS IT
FITS AN AN4 BOLT (1⁄4-28); A DASH AND THE NUMBER 5, AN AN5 BOLT
(5⁄16-24); AND SO ON.

THE CODE NUMBERS FOR SELF-LOCKING NUTS END IN THREE OR

FOUR DIGIT NUMBERS. THE LAST TWO DIGITS REFER TO THREADS
PER INCH, AND THE ONE OR TWO PRECEDING DIGITS STAND FOR THE
NUT SIZE IN 16THS OF AN INCH.
 IDENTIFICATION AND CODES
SOME OTHER COMMON NUTS AND THEIR CODE NUMBERS ARE:

CODE NUMBER AN310D5R: CODE NUMBER AN320-10:

AN310 = AIRCRAFT CASTLE NUT AN320 = AIRCRAFT CASTELLATED

SHEAR NUT, CADMIUM-PLATED
D = 2024-T ALUMINUM ALLOY
CARBON STEEL
5 = 5⁄16 INCH DIAMETER
10 = 5⁄8 INCH DIAMETER, 18 THREADS
R = RIGHT-HAND THREAD PER INCH (THIS NUT IS USUALLY RIGHT-
(USUALLY 24 THREADS PER HAND THREAD)
INCH)
Code Number AN350B1032:
AN350 = aircraft wing nut
B = brass
10 = number 10 bolt
32 = threads per inch