Connections that concentrate transferred loads to a single point (screw, nail, nut and bolt) are known as which type of connection?

• A. Fixed
• B. Welded
• C. Pinned
• D. Sliding

Answer: (C)

Loads that are transferred through a single fastener, like a screw, nail, or bolt, create a pinned connection. This type acts like a hinge: it allows rotation and carries forces (shear and axial) primarily at the fastener itself, without transmitting bending moment across the joint. That’s why the load path concentrates at that one point.

In contrast, a fixed or rigid connection resists rotation and transfers moment through the joint surface or welds, distributing load across the interface. A welded connection also provides a continuous path for forces, including moment, along the welds. A sliding connection allows relative movement and offers little to no moment resistance, so it doesn’t establish a single-point load transfer in the same way. Therefore, the described situation matches a pinned connection.