PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

INET DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Structures 2

AMT 421
MODULE 03:
Final
Failure Mode of Riveted
Connections

AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES
II

Prepared by:
ENGR. GIOVANNI P. DIHAYCO

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INET DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Structures 2
Time Allotment
Title Page
Hours/Mins
Introduction 3 10 mins
Failure mode of riveted connections (Discussion) 4 20 mins
Sample Problem 6 50 mins
Enrichment Activity 7 50 mins
Formative Assessment 8 50 mins
Summary and Honesty Clause 8 5 mins
Total 3.08hrs/3hrs & 5mins

TABLE OF REFERENCES
References No.
Peery-Aircraft Structures: Load classification Terminology 1
E.F. Bruhn: Analysis and Design of Flight Vehicle Structures 2
T.H.G. Megson: Aircraft Structures for Engineering Students 3
Anderson: Fundamentals Of Aerodynamics 4
R.C. Hibbeler: Mechanics of Materials 8 Edition
th
5
Pilot Handbook: Aircraft Structures 6
Ferdinand L. Singer: Strength of Materials 7

Introduction

In the riveted joints failure the plates are connected by the rivets exert tensile
stress on the rivets are unable to resist the stress, they shear off. Sometimes, the
rivets do not shear off under the tensile stress, but are crushed. Due to this, the
rivets hole becomes oval and hence the joint becomes loose.
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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INET DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Structures 2

There are four types of stress occurs at riveted connections. Therefore, the failure
is possible in four locations as follows: shearing stress; failure in rivets, tension stress;
failure in plate, bearing stress; failure between plate and rivets, shearing stress; failure
in plate.

Common failure modes in riveted lap joints.(a) Tensile failure in the parent
material, (b) shear out, (c) cleavage, (d) rivet-shear, (e) pull-out (bearing)

Bearing Failure

A bearing failure occurs when the bearing fails to meet their expected life or
performance levels, often causing a connection to fail, and the connection it is a part
of can break down. Bearing failure is the failure which occurs in the plate when the
applied load crosses the elastic limit.

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INET DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Structures 2
Sometimes, the rivets do not actually shear of under the tensile stress, but are
crushed as shown in the figure. Due this, the rivet hole becomes of an oval shape
and hence the joints become loose. The area which resists this action is the
projected area of the hole or rivet on diametral plane.

The resistance offered by a rivet to be crushed is known as crushing resistance or

crushing strength or bearing value of rivet.

Let d = diameter of the rivet hole

T = Thickness of the plate
σc = Safe permissible crushing stress for the rivet or plate material, and
n = Number of rivets per pitch length under crushing.
We know that crushing area per rivet( i.e project area per rivet),
Ac = d.t
Total crushing area = n.d.t and crushing resistance or pull required to crush the rivet
per pitch length,
Pc = n.d.t. σc
When the crushing resistance (Pc) is greater than the applied load (P) per pirch
length, then this type of failure will occur.

Shearing Failure

The plates which are connected by the rivets exert tensile stress on the rivets, and
if rivets are unable to resist the stress, they are sheared of as shown in the figure.

Shearing Failure

It may be noted that the rivets are in single shear in a lap joint and in a single
cover butt joint as shown in the figure. But the rivets are in double shear in double in
a double cover butt joint as shown in the figure. The resistance offered by a rivet to
be sheared off is known as shearing resistance or shearing strength or shearing
value of the rivet.
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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INET DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Structures 2

Let d = Diameter of the rivet hole

T = Safe permissible shear stress for the rivet material, and
n = Number of rivets per pitch length.
We know that the shearing area,

Shearing resistance or pull required to shear of the rivet per pitch length,

Tensile Failure
A joint may fail due to tearing of the plate at an edge as shown in the figure. This
can be avoided by keeping the margin, m = 1.5d, where d is the diameter of the rivet
hole.

Due to tensile stress in the main plates, the main plate or cover plates may tear off
across a row of rivets as shown in the figure. In such cases, we consider only one
pitch length of the plate, since every rivet is responsible for that much length of the
plate only.

The resistance offered by the plate against tearing is known as tearing value of the
plate.

Let p = pitch of the rivets,

d= Diameter of the rivet hole
t = Thickness of the plate, and
σt = Permissible tensile stress for the plate material.
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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INET DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Structures 2

We know that tearing area per pitch length,

At = (p-d)t
Tearing resistance or pull required to tear off the plate per pitch length,
Pt = At. σt =(p-d)t. σt
When the tearing resistance (Pt) is greater than the applied load (P) per pitch length,
then this type of failure will not occur.

Sample Problem 1. In the Figure #1 below, assume that a 25-mm- diameter rivet joins
the plates that are each 120 mm wide. The allowable stresses are 120 MPa for
bearing in the plate material and 60 MPa for shearing of rivet. Determine (a) the
minimum thickness of each plate; and (b) the largest average tensile stress in plates.

V 120 V

25
V V

Solution:

From shearing of rivet:

P = ƬArivets
P = 60 [¼π(252)]
P = 29452.43N

From shearing of plate material:

P = σbAb
29452.43 = 120(25t)
t = 9.82 mm answer

Largest average tensile stress in the plate:

P = σA
29452.43 = σ [9.82(120-25)]
σ = 31.57 MPa answer

Activity no. 1
Direction: Identify the answers to the following questions stated below.

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INET DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Structures 2
1. It is a failure of rivets that do not actually shear off under the tensile stress, but
are crushed, the rivet hole becomes an oval shape and hence the joints
become loose.
2. It is a failure of rivets which the plates are connected by the rivets exert tensile
stress on the rivets, and the rivets are unable resist the stress, they are
sheared off.
3. This failure occurs when the stress on a component exceeds the strength of
the material.
4. It is a ways, or a modes, in which something might fail.

Activity no. 2
Directions: Answer each item as best as you can.
1. What are the failure modes of riveted connections?
2. What are the reasons the riveted joints have lost their importance?
3. How many types of rivet joints are there?
4. What type loads causes the most rivet failures?

ESSAY RUBRIX

Poor Average Outstanding Total

Accuracy Answer is not Answer is Answer is

accurate or has accurate, but accurate, and
little accuracy. missed some important points
important points. are mentioned.
(1-4pts)
(5-9pts) (10pts)

Grammar, Poor or below Few grammatical No spelling,

writing average errors. punctuation or
grammar. grammatical
mechanics. (2-3pts)
errors
(1pt)
(4pts)

Total 14pts

Formative Assessment:
Directions: Answer the given problem and show you solution. Write in a plane sheet
of white paper or in a yellow pad.
1. In the figure below shows a roof truss and the detail of the riveted connection
at joint B. Using allowable stresses of Ƭ = 70 MPa and σb = 140 MPa, how
many 19-mm-diameter rivets are required to fasten member BC to the gusset
plate? Member BE? What is the largest average tensile or compressive stress
in BC and BE?

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PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
INET DEPARTMENT
Aircraft Structures 2

Summary
There are four types of stress occurs at riveted connections. Therefore, the
failure is possible in four locations as follows: shearing stress; failure in rivets,
tension stress; failure in plate, bearing stress; failure between plate and rivets,
shearing stress; failure in plate.

Honesty Clause
I am expected to display the highest degree of honesty and professionalism in
my class work, requirements and activities and I understand that if plagiarism
is found in my paper, my instructor will follow the procedure on academic
dishonesty set forth by Philippine State College of Aeronautics.

________________________________
Name and Signature

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