Research Council on Structural Connections

{{Short description|Research organization in the United States}}

{{Notability|1=Organizations|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox organization

|name =Research Council on Structural Connections

|abbreviation =RCSC

|formation =1947

|num_volunteers = 85

|website ={{URL|boltcouncil.org}}

}}

The Research Council on Structural Connections (RCSC) is a research organization focused on bolted structural connections. Their technical standard on this subject is cited in the US steel design code.{{Cite book |title=Specification for Structural Steel Buildings (ANSI/AISC 360-16) |page=16.1–126 |publisher=American Institute of Steel Construction |date=July 7, 2016 |url=https://www.aisc.org/globalassets/aisc/publications/standards/a360-16-spec-and-commentary.pdf}}

Prior to 1980, the organization was known as the Research Council on Riveted and Bolted Structural Joints (RCRBSJ). It was formed in 1947 to develop specifications for connections with high-strength bolts.{{cite book |title=Rehabilitation and Retrofit |url=https://www.aisc.org/products/publication/design-guide/Design-Guide-15-Rehabilitation-and-Retrofit-Second-Edition/ |publisher=American Institute of Steel Construction |first=Roger |last=Brockenbrough |first2=Joseph |last2=Schuster |edition=2nd |series=Design Guide |volume=15 |year=2018 |chapter=Appendix A4 |pages=601–604}} At that time, high-strength structural steel rivets were common in buildings and bridges, but bolts were expected to be safer, quicker, and more economical if technical equivalence could be demonstrated. The council's first Specification{{citation |url=https://www.aisc.org/products/publication/historic-standards/specifications-for-assembly-of-structural-joints-using-high-tensile-steel-bolts---january-1951/ |title=Specifications for Assembly of Structural Joints Using High Tensile Steel Bolts |publisher=American Institute of Steel Construction |date=Jan 1951 |author=Research Council on Structural Connections}} identified ASTM A325 bolts as one-to-one replacements for ASTM A141 rivets.{{cite book |title=Guide to Design Criteria for Bolted and Riveted Joints |url=http://boltcouncil.org/files/2ndEditionGuide.pdf |year=2001 |publisher=American Institute of Steel Construction |first1=Geoffrey |last1=Kulak |first2=John |last2=Fisher |first3=John |last3=Struik |edition=2nd |isbn=1564240754 |page=2}}