A study is made of the dynamic interaction between the bolts and fuel segments in a pulse reactor assembly which undergoes rapid heating. The analysis of the propagating thermoelastic stress waves in the bolted assembly indicates that the maximum dynamic stresses in the bolts can be many times greater than the static thermal stress. A comparison of the results obtained in the continuum analysis with those from an approximate stereomechanical (spring-mass) model indicates that the latter model gives good results for moderately large ratios of segment mass-to-bolt mass. Analytical expressions are derived which give the peak dynamic bolt stresses.