Introduction

Volumes can be written about the development of mechanical fasteners, which date back to Herculaneum in 79 A.D. The use of a bolted joint, however, became truly practical during the 18th century. Since then much valuable information on fastener design, testing, manufacture, and service has been developed in such countries as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Holland, Austria, Japan, France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy. The time interval between the Second World War and the close of the 1960s was most productive and it might be termed the "golden era" of fastener development.