• Rivets are metal pins that are

used for permanently joining

two or more structural steel

members by passing a headed

shank through a hole in each

piece and hammering down the plain end to form a second head. Their

use has been largely superseded by the less labor-intensive

techniques of bolting or welding.

• Explosive rivets, used when a joint

is accessible from one side only,

have an explosive-filled shank that

is detonated by striking the head

with a hammer to expand the shank on the far side of the hole.

ADHESIVES

Adhesives are sued to secure the surfaces of two materials together.

Numerous types of adhesives are available, many of them being tailor-made

for use with specific materials and under specified conditions. They may be

supplied in the form of a solid, liquid, powder or film; some require a

catalyst to activate their adhesive properties. Always follow the

manufacturer’s recommendations in the use of an adhesive. Important

considerations in the selection of an adhesive include:

• Strength: Adhesives are usually strongest in resisting tensile and

shear stresses and weakest in resisting cleavage or splitting

stresses.

• Curing or setting time: This ranges from immediate bonding to curing

times of up to several days.

• Setting temperature range: Some adhesives will set at room

temperature while others require baking at elevated temperatures.