Today, industrial designers typically rely on two main methods to estimate the external load distribution in bolted assemblies. The first is an analytical model based on the assumption of perfectly rigid bodies, which often fails to accurately identify the critical bolt and its corresponding load. The second method involves Finite Element Analysis (FEA), which is known for its precision but requires significant time, specialized software, and technical expertise. This paper introduces a new analytical approach designed to assist engineers in distributing external loads across connection points, thereby identifying critical connections and their associated loading conditions. The proposed method incorporates key parameters that influence the behavior of each connection point, including its position relative to the applied load, preload, local stiffness, component elasticity, and friction coefficient. The conceptual framework of this approach is presented, along with the derivation of the primary formula used for load distribution calculations. Additional formulas are referenced with appropriate sources. Furthermore, this paper provides FEA simulations and experimental results to validate and discuss the effectiveness of the proposed method. Finally, conclusions are drawn, and future research directions are outlined.
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