In this blog post, we will be discussing about the different methods in modeling bolted connections with Abaqus FEA. At the last section of the post,we will be showcasing a bolted connection, incorporating a pretensioned bolt. Flanged connections are used extensively in most engineering disciplines. They provide a way of interconnecting  various (metallic, plastic etc.) components and their design is often critical for the strength of various components (e.g. bolt strength) and sealing of the assembly.