Bearing Stress Calculator
Enter the positive load magnitude and your measured diameter and thickness. The calculator reports nominal average bearing stress in MPa.
A QUICK WALKTHROUGH
How to use this tool
- Enter load in N, diameter in mm, and thickness in mm.
- Calculate P/(d·t), using the projected bearing area.
- Review the scope and formula source before interpreting the value.
Equation and units
Nominal average bearing stress: σᵦ = P/(d·t). P is the user-entered load magnitude in N, d is diameter in mm, and t is thickness in mm; N/mm² equals MPa. Reference: NASA, Fastener Design Manual, NASA RP-1228, https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19900009424.
Scope limits
This reports an average projected-area stress only. It does not evaluate material strength, bearing allowables, edge distance, tear-out, net-section failure, fatigue, fastener shear, joint behavior, code requirements, or safety/suitability.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common questions
Does this determine whether a joint is safe?
No. It calculates nominal average stress only and does not compare it with material allowables or a design standard.
Which units should I enter?
Use load in N and diameter and thickness in mm to obtain MPa.
Are inputs uploaded?
No. The calculation runs in this browser.