Fasteners Used Within the Civil Engineering Sector
Blindbolt NZ | 5th July 2021
Blind Bolt Fasteners Used Within Civil Engineering
Throughout the civil engineering sector fasteners are used, as the name suggests, for joining two or more objects together. This article will examine the nature of fasteners in general, and look at the different types currently available.
What Is a Fastener?
To put it simply, a fastener is a hardware device capable of creating a temporary or permanent joint which fixes two or more objects together. A permanent join could be created by a fastener such as a nail or rivet, while a temporary join might be created by threaded fasteners such as screws or bolts. Temporary joints of this kind can be dismantled and removed if the construction in question needs to be shifted or modified, without any of the components being damaged.
The fasteners utilised in civil engineering projects are manufactured from a range of materials, including the following:
- Stainless steel
- Carbon steel
- Alloy steel
- Bronze
- Brass
The basic purpose of a fastener is always going to be the same – to create a stable and durable connection between objects. Despite this, they come in different types which are more suited to particular projects.
The different types of fasteners you can consider include the following:
- Anchors
- Studs
- Nuts
- Bolts
- Screws
- Washers
Which Fastener Type Should I Opt for?
This question of which type of fastener is best suited to a project depends entirely on the nature of that project. Depending on the specific circumstances, a project might call for bolts, anchors and washers used in a range of ways which reflect those circumstances and also the finish which is intended. The factors which have to be taken into account when deciding which type of fastener you want to use include the following:
- The specific materials which are being joined together
- How much the materials in question weigh
- The environment in which the finished project will be located, with particular attention paid to factors such as the temperature and the presence of corrosive substances such as saltwater
- Whether the fasteners you use will have to be reused
- How easy or difficult it will be to access the objects which need to be joined
Additional factors which might have some bearing on the fasteners you opt to use include the size and experience of the workforce, the design of the objects in question and the availability of any equipment needed to apply the fasteners.
Different fasteners serve completely different purposes, so it’s vital that you research which types of fastener will be needed for specific parts of the overall project. In some cases, different types of fastener will have to be combined, with features such as bolts, washers, screws and nuts operating in tandem to clamp two or more objects in place.
The durability of the materials used for fasteners can vary. Fasteners constructed from stainless steel, for example, can cope with the impact of heat and corrosive substances, making them ideal for more challenging environments. Aluminium fasteners, on the other hand, provide superb weight to strength ratio, being extremely strong but lightweight, and this makes them the ideal choice for many projects.
The factors which impact the choice of fastener mean that in-depth research will pay dividends, and blind bolts should also be considered for any kind of project.
The Blind Bolt
The blind bolt is a fastener which offers strength and versatility at the same time as being extremely simple to utilise. It is made up of a collar and sleeve on a steel pin and combines ease of use with the creation of an extremely strong join which is built to last. Put all of this together and you have a solution which is popular across a wide range of construction projects.
Although other blind fasteners are available on the market, the innovation offered by blind bolts mean that they are now used across the construction industry for a wide range of purposes.
Blind bolts offer greater strength than alternatives such as conventional hex bolts, rivets or welds, meaning that it is an option which can deliver when these conventional fasteners can’t. The specific design and size of each blind bolt needs to be taken into account on the basis of the engineering project being delivered.
What Are Blind Bolts Used for?
Blind bolts are a fixing solution which delivers when standard hex bolts and rivets can’t. That’s because blind bolts can create strong connections in areas where access to the objects being joined is limited. Industries such as bridge-building, ship building and automotive engineering all make use of blind bolts. In fact, any situation which calls for a durable and stable fastening will benefit hugely from the use of blind bolts.
Take a look at these civil engineering solutions to see the versatility of blind bolts in action. They provide construction managers with a fixing system which is affordable and efficient.
Bolted Shut
As a sector, civil engineering depends upon a wide range of fasteners, including the blind bolts which we supply. Choosing the right fastener for you will involve analysing the job which needs to be done and researching fasteners in general to decide which fastener is appropriate for each project.
Interested in finding out more about our blind bolts and whether they’d work for you? Check out our guide here. You can also find out more about our blind bolts by contacting the BlindBolt team via our quick and easy contact form below. Alternatively, you can get in touch with a member of our team today on 0800 42 52 56 or send us an email at enquiries@blindbolt.co.nz. We look forward to hearing from you.
The Blind Bolt