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.