ABSTRACT
The paper introduces the principal findings of a testing programme carried out to assess the performance of a newly developed blind-bolt. The blind-bolt, an evolution of the Lindapter-Hollobolt, is intended for use when making moment-resisting connections to Rectangular Hollow Sections. To date, the testing programme has concentrated on ascertaining the tensile strength and axial stiffness of the bolt, with tests subjecting the blind-bolt to a predominantly tensile load in a representation of the tensile region of such a connection. The results of the initial tests have shown the new blind-bolt to possess sufficient stiffness to classify the connection as moment-resisting but a lower tensile strength than standard bolts. However, the addition of a concrete infill to the tube in later tests has resulted in a tensile strength equivalent to standard bolts together with axial stiffness sufficient to classify the connection as rigid.
