Simply,all bolts have a Tensile strength ie 8.8 8.9 or higher,stamped on the hex end. Tensile = tension or stretch,if you think of pulling the bolt north and south from each end, sooner or later it will exceed its tensile strength and fail/break/fracture. The stretching of a bolt under torque imparts a load on it and stops it from coming loose without any use of Loctite etc.
The other end of the scale is overheating bolts like the ones used to secure cylinder heads and when this happens they lose their tension and at extremes may even break causing failure of the gasket.
You beat me to it Ronne.
Hope this makes a little sense.
Last edited by flyerncle : 14th July 2009 at 07:55 PM.
Reason: Bonzo beat me....Not literally !
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