A cotter joint is a flat wedge-shaped piece of steel
which is used to connect rigidly rods which
transmit motion and to work in the direction of their length, without rotation. The joints may be subjected to tensile or compressive loads along the axis of the rods. Such cotter joints are used for temporary works and where dismantling should be easier as in connections for piston and cross head of a steam engine, that of a pump and reciprocating engine, etc. There are three parts in the joint, the rod end, the socket end and the cotter that fits into the tapered slot. The taper of the slot as well of the cotter is usually on one side. Usually rod end, socket end and cotter are made of the same material. Also cotter is made weaker than the rod and socket ends for easy replacements in case of failure. The materials used are 30 C8 steel and C.I. based on the yield strength a factor of safety of 3 to 4 for steel gives note l = 100 MPa = c, = 50 MPa while based on ultimate strength and using a factor of safety of 7, l = 20 MPa, c = 100 MPa, = 10 MPa for C.I.