AISC Design Guide 17 : High Strength Bolts

There are two principal types of fasteners used in contemporary fabricated steel structures—bolts and welds. Both are widely used, and sometimes both fastening types are used in the same connection. For many connections, it is common to use welds in the shop portion of the fabrication process and to use bolts in the field. Welding requires a significant amount of equipment, uses skilled operators, and its inspection is a relatively sophisticated procedure. On the other hand, bolts are a manufactured item, they are installed using simple equipment, and installation and inspection can be done by persons with only a relatively small amount of training.

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