ABSTRACT
This paper presents the results of a research study into the applicability of the Flowdrill bolting system to semi-rigid connections between rectangular hollow section (RHS) columns and I-section beams. The Flowdrill system is a method of friction drilling which produces an extruded boss, which in the case of a rectangular hollow section is produced on it’s inside surface, which can then be threaded to take a standard bolt. It therefore enables a single sided connection to be made in rectangular hollow sections using standard bolts, standard beam end details and standard on-site equipment. Other single sided bolting systems are available, but nearly all of them require expensive special bolts and specialised on-site equipment, which can be cumbersome and difficult to control and calibrate.
