60 Second Spotlight on Jamie Shenton, JCB
Ahead of the Bolted Joints Seminar taking place on 8 February 2024 we caught up with Jamie Shenton to hear his thoughts on the topic.
Please briefly explain your current role and involvement with bolted joints.
I am a principal engineer in the structures department in JCB, currently working as the acting manager of the team. It should be no surprise that large elements of JCB machines are bolted together, but are they extensively understood and do we get the most out of the joint? I have done several bolt gauging activities as the main way to learn about them but with the wide range of bolted joints we have at JCB it is difficult to have the time to address every joint individually.
What are some common challenges engineers face in your specific area of expertise and how will your presentation address these?
A big challenge is producing a repeatable cost effective assurance that the bolt preload is correct. Another challenge that we face is determining if the bolt joint is specified correctly with enough bolts to robustly secure the joint though its life.
What do you see as the key priorities for engineers working with bolted joints?
I think a key priority is to have a forum or network where by we can increase the overall level of competence of bolted joints in the UK engineering industry.
Please briefly explain your role, involvement and experience in the field of net zero powertrain technology.
I work within the engineering team at IAAPS, where I predominantly work with our customers to test electric machines and drivelines. I am involved at all stages of development, from initial system level modelling to final component or driveline test.
The presenters at the EIS seminar work in a variety of different sectors. What are the benefits of sharing bolted joint knowledge and approaches across different industries?
Each industry sector can have very different requirements and challenges but that’s not to say that what worked for one industry would not work in the other to solve an unrelated problem.
In light of technological advancements and industry changes, how do you foresee the future of bolted joint technology evolving?
I suspect there will be more connected sensors stating if a bolted joint is secured correctly, or it would be nice to have a shim/interface that can show the contact pressure.
From a design side with more awareness of bolted joints and how to design for them I would expect to see more software improvements to aid with the bolted joint arrangement.
What will you be presenting at the EIS seminar and how will this benefit participants?
I will be presenting an insight into JCB as an OEM. I will discuss the many different types of bolted joints we have and why making sure they do not fail is so important for us. I will discuss one of the ways we are using technology on the production line to assure this.
Why is it important for engineers to join this event?
Increasing the awareness of bolted joints and sharing across different industries is crucial to the success and foundation of British engineering. We should be working together and networking, sharing our stories and inspiring each other to do great things!