A fastening device having a bellows-like or accordion-like structure made of a material that changes shape when activated by a catalyst, and having pleated or foldable zigzag elements that contract from an extended state to a contracted state upon activation. These elements are formed from zig and zag segments of various shapes. The shape changing material may be a shape memory metal alloy, shape memory polymer or elastic memory composite. A method of using this fastener provides apposition and compression of abutment surfaces to join together two pieces of material, and is suitable for joining apposing bone surfaces together to heal fractures via the use of orthopedic hardware.
