What does Breakaway Torque refer to?

Breakaway Torque specifically refers to the force necessary to start a fastener moving after it has been tightened or is in a state of rest. This term is often used in the context of loosening bolts or screws that may have become stuck or seized due to friction, corrosion, or other factors.

In practice, breakaway torque is crucial for engineers and technicians as it helps to determine how much force must be applied to initiate movement of a fastener, which can be significantly higher than the force needed to keep a fastener in motion once it has started to move. This understanding is essential in quality assurance and assembly processes to prevent stripping, breaking, or damaging the fasteners or the components they are attached to.

Other options mention different aspects of torque, such as keeping a fastener tight, the force used for tightening, and the total applied torque during assembly, but they do not capture the specific concept of breakaway torque that focuses on initiating the movement of a fastener.