How do flat washers protect the surface quality of connected parts in mechanical connections?

When nuts and bolts are tightened, a large pressure will be generated. If the nut is in direct contact with the connected part, the pressure will be concentrated in the contact area between the nut and the connected part, resulting in excessive local pressure. Flat washers increase the contact area between the nut and the connected part with their flat circular sheet structure. When the nut is tightened, the pressure originally concentrated in a small area will be evenly distributed to a larger area through the flat washer. It is like laying a cushion blanket on the surface of the connected part, so that the pressure no longer bursts out in a concentrated manner, but spreads out gently.
Flat washers of different materials have their own advantages in dispersing pressure and protecting the surface of the connected parts. Flat washers made of metal materials, such as carbon steel, stainless steel and copper flat washers, have good strength and hardness. Carbon steel flat washers are low in cost and can withstand a certain degree of pressure. In ordinary mechanical connection situations, they can evenly transmit the pressure applied by the nut to prevent the surface of the connected part from being dented or scratched due to uneven pressure. With excellent corrosion resistance, stainless steel flat washers will not fail due to corrosion when working in harsh environments. They can also continuously and stably disperse pressure and protect the surface of the connected parts from the additional destructive force generated during the tightening of the nut. The good electrical and thermal conductivity of copper flat washers make them play a role in the connection of electronic equipment. At the same time, they can evenly disperse pressure to avoid damage to the surface of electronic components due to concentrated pressure. Non-metallic flat washers also have unique functions. Rubber flat washers are soft and elastic. In scenarios such as pipeline connection, they can not only better fit the surface of the connected parts through their own elastic deformation and increase the actual contact area, but also further disperse pressure under pressure and absorb pipeline vibration and noise. This feature allows rubber flat washers to protect the surface of the connected parts while reducing the wear on the surface caused by vibration. Plastic flat washers are light in weight and have good insulation. In the assembly of electronic equipment that requires insulation and the surface of the connected parts is relatively fragile, it can not only meet the insulation requirements, but also evenly disperse the pressure of the nut with its large contact area to prevent indentation or damage on the surface.
In different mechanical connection scenarios, the importance of flat washers in protecting the surface quality of connected parts is particularly prominent. In the steel structure connection of construction, a large number of bolts and nuts are used to fix steel beams, steel columns and other components. These steel structures bear huge loads, and the pressure generated when the nuts are tightened cannot be underestimated. The use of flat washers can evenly distribute the pressure to the surface of the steel structure, avoiding deformation and crushing of the steel surface due to excessive local pressure, thereby ensuring the connection strength and overall stability of the steel structure. Once the surface of the connected part is damaged, it may affect the force performance of the steel structure and reduce the safety of the building.
In the assembly of parts and components of mechanical equipment, the surface quality of many precision parts directly affects the operating accuracy and service life of the equipment. In the connection of these parts, flat washers disperse the pressure to prevent the nuts from damaging the surface of the parts. For example, in the connection of the transmission parts of the machine tool, if the surface of the connected part is scratched or dented due to concentrated pressure, it will affect the stability and accuracy of the transmission and lead to a decrease in processing accuracy. The application of flat washers can effectively protect the surface of these precision parts and ensure the normal operation of the equipment.
In the field of electronic equipment, the connected parts are often various precision circuit boards, chips and other components. Their surfaces are extremely fragile, and any slight damage may affect the performance of the equipment. Flat washers here not only play the role of dispersing pressure, but also meet special requirements such as insulation and shock absorption. By selecting flat washers of suitable materials and specifications, the pressure of the nut can be evenly dispersed to the surface of components such as circuit boards, avoiding damage to components due to concentrated pressure, and ensuring the normal assembly and stable operation of electronic equipment.
The flat washers protect the surface quality of the connected parts in mechanical connection by achieving uniform pressure dispersion through their unique structure and the characteristics of different materials. In various mechanical connection scenarios, this protective role is crucial and directly related to the performance, service life and safety of the equipment. With the continuous development of mechanical manufacturing technology, higher requirements are also placed on the performance and quality of flat washers. In the future, flat washers will play a more important role in protecting the surface quality of connected parts.