Rivets

Rivets

Rivet is a short cylindrical bar with a head integral to it. Rivets

are used for making permanent fastening, generally between
pieces of sheet or rolled metal. They are round bars with a
head formed on one end and are often put in place red-hot so
that a head can be formed on the other end by pressing or
hammering (Figure 1).

The material of rivets must be tough and ductile. They are

usually made from steel (low carbon steel) or nickel steel,
brass, aluminium or copper.

There are two different joints: Lap and butt. As shown in

figures: 2a - single riveted lap joint; 2b - double riveted lap
joint, 2c - single strap butt joint and 2d - double strap butt joint.

Fig. 1: different heads of rivet

Fig.2: Lap and butt joint

Failure of riveted joint

* Shearing force

𝜋 𝑑2
- Shearing force of two pieces with one rivet: 𝐹𝜏 = 𝜏 4

𝜋 𝑑2
- Shearing force of two pieces with more than one rivet: 𝐹𝜏 =𝜏 𝑛
4

𝜋 𝑑2
- Shearing force of three pieces with one rivet: 𝐹𝜏 = 1.875 𝜏
4

𝜋 𝑑2
- Shearing force of three pieces with more than one rivet: 𝐹𝜏 = 1.875 𝜏 𝑛
4

English Technical Terms 1

Rivets

Where:

2
𝐹: Applied force (N), 𝜏: Shearing stress (N.mm ),

𝑑: Diameter of the rivet (mm), 𝑛: Number of the rivet,

1.875: Factor using when double shear occur.

* Tearing force

Can be avoided tearing of the plate at the edge by keeping the margin (distance between rivet’s hole and
the plate edge), tearing of the plate between rivets:

𝐹𝑡 = 𝜎𝑡 𝑃 − 𝑑 𝑡

Where:

𝑃: Pitch of the rivet (mm), 𝑡: Thickness of the plate (mm),

2
𝑑: Diameter of the rivet’s hole (mm), σt: Allowable tensile stress of plate material (N/mm )

* Crushing force

At big hole of rivet, the crushing force can be expressed by: 𝐹𝑐𝑟 = 𝑛 𝑑 𝑡 𝜎𝑐𝑟

Where:

𝑛: Number of rivet, 𝑑: Diameter of the rivet’s hole (mm),

2
𝑡: Thickness of the plate (mm), σcr: Crushing stress (N/mm )

* Efficiency of riveted joint

𝐹𝑡 𝐹𝜏 𝐹𝑐𝑟
𝐸𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 = 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 100 %
𝐹

Where

𝐹𝑡 = Tearing force (N), 𝐹𝜏 = Shearing force (N),

𝐹𝑐𝑟 = Crushing force (N), 𝐹= Force at un-riveted or solid plate (N).

English Technical Terms 2