Which statement best describes a rigid connection?

• A. Bonded together with welds or adhesives
• B. A single point using screws
• C. Gravity-based weight
• D. Uses only nails

Answer: (A)

Rigid connections are meant to resist rotation at the joint and transfer bending moments between the connected members. Bonding with welds or structural adhesives creates a continuous, stiff bond that effectively makes the joined pieces behave as a single rigid unit, so the angle between them stays fixed under load. This is why welded or bonded joints are considered rigid.

In contrast, a joint held by a single point with screws tends to act like a hinge, allowing rotation and not efficiently transferring moments. Relying on gravity isn’t a method of forming a connection at all, and nails provide mainly shear resistance with little to no moment transfer, resulting in a non-rigid, flexible joint.