The Standard of Care for Fastener Selection - Expert Article
The root cause analysis in many structural failure investigations leads directly to a failed connection, and ultimately to a failed fastener. The failure of a connection often leaves a structure vulnerable to global failure or collapse due to load path discontinuities, rendering the structure unstable and incapable of withstanding the intended loads or forces or even supporting its own weight safely. In many cases, the root cause for the failure is that an improper fastener was used.
In this article, structural engineer Mark Duckett focuses on the standard of care for fastener selection as it relates to structural failures. In doing so, he will introduce critical technical concepts including types of loads, material characteristics (fastener and base material), and application-specific choices regarding fasteners.