Editorial: bolted joints and mechanical connections of components

This special issue, dedicated to bolted joints and mechanical connections, offers an attractive selection of the recent and modern findings on mechanical fastening and their products. It is widely demonstrated that fastening systems play a fundamental role for all engineered products especially because they are, nowadays, driven by the continuously pursuit of highest strength to weight ratios. Structural components are getting lighter by taking advantage of the favorable features offered by high strength steels, titanium, aluminum and magnesium alloys as well as fiber reinforced plastics. Among the wide range of fastening systems, which have to withstand increased thermal, mechanical and environmental impacts, threaded components are the most common and dominant solution for structural joining of different materials. Bolted joints have to be considered as important machine elements which will also play a major role for efficient products in future.