Definition of a Torque Angle

Torque as a Measurement of Force

A concept commonly applied in physics and mechanical engineering, torque is a measurement of force that specifically relates to the amount of strength required to rotate any given object. We generally think of a force as a push or a pull, but torque is a twisting or turning force that moves objects such as bolts or flywheels. The International System of Units for torque is the Newton meter (N.m), and the torque wrench is the tool used to apply the required force to a fastener.

Angle as a Mathematical Term

An angle is the shape formed by two lines that share the same end point. If you placed a dot on a page and then marked two lines that ended up in different places, you would create an angle. There are various ways of measuring angles. The most common is by using the gradient, or height of the slope. The gradient is equal to the tangent of the angle and is often expressed as a percentage. We commonly use gradient to calculate the grade of a hill on a road. A right angle has a gradient of 90 percent.

The Torque Angle

To validate exactly how much torque has been applied to a fastener, hand torque audits are carried out. They can verify the tension required and determine that the fastener has been correctly tightened. Occasionally when some fasteners are measured, they reveal a relatively high level of torque, yet when the clamp force (tension) is measured the two recordings do not coincide; the fasteners actually required a much lower amount of clamp force to be accurately tightened. To reduce the disparity between these two tests, a measurement technique called a torque angle was created.

Measuring the Torque Angle

The twisting force is tested and plotted on a graph as the fastener is installed and uninstalled. The subsequent curve that is created by these graph coordinates is the torque angle. This results in an easier, more visual and accurate way of recording the required force and the accurate torque wrench needed to secure the fastener.