ABSTRACT
The design of connections can be approached from a number of directions: the type of structure, the type of fastener, the type of loading, and ·the designer's special interest. The dominant concerns in the design of connections in buildings, bridges, and towers such as offshore drilling platforms differ. Bolts, welds, and devices such as cable sockets transmit forces in different ways. Static loads, dynamic loads, and the expected number of repetitions of either, pose different problems. Structural engineers and fabricators have shared interests and responsibilities, but the focus of the former may be on obtaining a desired type of behavior and that of the latter on ensuring practicable fabrication and erection. All of these approaches are reflected in this book. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce some of the underlying common concerns and objectives.
