Mechanical Fastening System and Associated Structural Assembly and Method

A structural assembly comprising:

• a first structural member comprising a first side and a second side opposite said first side, and defining a first partial bore extending from said first side to said second side, said first structural member further comprising a first ridge protruding along a periphery of said first partial bore on said first side of said first structural member and a second ridge protruding along said periphery of said first partial bore on said second side of said first structural member;
• a second structural member comprising a first side and a second side opposite said first side, and defining a second partial bore extending from said first side to said second side, said second structural member further comprising a third ridge protruding along a periphery of said second partial bore on said first side of said second structural member and a fourth ridge protruding along said periphery of said second partial bore on said second side of said second structural member, wherein said second partial bore is aligned with said first partial bore along a bore axis to define a through-bore;
• a first engagement member comprising a first groove receiving both said first ridge and said third ridge;
• a second engagement member comprising a second groove receiving both said second ridge and said fourth ridge;
• and
• a clamping assembly clamping said first structural member and said second structural member between said first engagement member and said second engagement member, said clamping assembly comprising:
• a bolt member extending through said through-bore;
• and
• a nut member in threaded engagement with said bolt member and in abutting engagement with said second engagement member.

A method for joining a first structural member to a second structural member, each of said first structural member and said second structural member comprising a first side, a second side opposite said first side, a partial bore extending from said first side to said second side, a first protrusion protruding proximate a periphery of said partial bore on said first side, and a second protrusion protruding proximate said periphery of said partial bore on said second side, said method comprising the steps of:

• aligning said partial bore of said first structural member with said partial bore of said second structural member along a bore axis to define a through-bore;
• positioning a first engagement member into engagement with both said first protrusion of said first structural member and said first protrusion of said second structural member;
• positioning a second engagement member into engagement with both said second protrusion of said first structural member and said second protrusion of said second structural member;
• and
• applying a clamping force to clamp said first structural member and said second structural member between said first engagement member and said second engagement member.