A structural 
flange connection 
system and method that utilizes structural flanges having a standard bolted connection and a 
mechanical bond to effectively manage and assist the retention of bolt preloads and substantially eliminate movement between the 
flange faces due to a reduction in the need for friction load being generated by the bolt clamping force in the 
flange connection. The structural flanges of the structural flange connection 
system and method each include an outer rim and a flange lip having a face and a shoulder. The structural flange connection 
system and method may be utilized in the manufacture and installation of a wind 
turbine tower, which may be made up of one or more 
tower sections, and each 
tower section may terminate in structural flanges of the structural flange connection system and method. When properly aligned, the structural flanges may be bolted together. When each tower section is properly aligned and bolted, the 
mechanical bond of the structural flanges is also joined together. Such manufacture of the wind 
turbine tower may occur in the field during installation of the wind 
turbine tower.