Proper use of fasteners?

[Jamaz17]

Does anyone have a list and/or general rule of when you should use fasteners and what fasteners you should use together?
Ie: If you use a SHCS through a thru hole and put a nut on the other side do you need a flat washer on either side (bolt head or nut side)and do you need a lock washer on either side? This is just one of many examples.
Or is there a rule of what washers, fasteners, nuts that you should not use together because it is ineffective or bad design practice?

 

[ewh]

Lock washers have been addressed here many times before, and the concensus is that they usually add nothing of value to the joint.

 

[dimjim]

Use flat washers under heads or under nuts if bearing
stresses under heads exceed the yield stress of the material. Then the washer od must be great enough
to reduce the stresses under the washer such as it
does not exceed the yield stress of the material.

 

[Billybaru]

One thing to keep in mind is if you are using a SHCS or other high strength bolt, a hardened flat washer (ASTM F436 as an example) should be considered.