Uses for Rivets in Manufacturing and Construction(compressive strength of steel August)
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- source:YESCOM CNC Machining
Joining Thin Sheets of Metal
One of the most common uses of rivets is to join thin sheets of metal together in everything from aircraft to bridges to boats. Rivets provide a solid fastening point that holds better under vibration and shock loads than many other fasteners.
The riveting process involves drilling or punching a hole through the pieces to be joined, inserting the rivet, and deforming the protruding end with a rivet gun. This flares out the rivet and clamps the sheets together securely. Rivets evenly distribute stresses across joined sheets for reliable connections.
Aircraft Construction
Aircraft make especially heavy use of rivets due to their light weight, high strength, and reliability. Literally millions of rivets hold together the aluminum and titanium skins to the ribs and spars of the underlying airframe structure. Rivets allow for efficient manufacturing and facilitate repairs and alterations.
Special heavy duty structural rivets known as hi-shear rivets are extensively used in aircraft construction. Their high shear and tensile strength suits them for joining wings and other critical components. Aircraft-grade rivets are made from aluminum, titanium, and specialty alloys.
Shipbuilding
Ship hulls are essentially large thin-walled vessels that must handle massive loads and corrosion from seawater. Riveting assembles the steel or aluminum plates that form the hull with the internal frames, bulkheads, and structural members. Ships frequently use flush rivets that provide smooth aerodynamic or hydrodynamic exterior surfaces.
Countless rows of rivets form the hulls of ships ranging from small recreational boats up to enormous supertankers and aircraft carriers. Riveting's flexibility facilitates pre-assembly of modules that are later joined into the complete hull. Rivets also allow for easy repair and replacement of damaged hull sections.
Bridges and Steel Structures
Steel bridges employ rivets for connecting gusset plates, joining structural beams, and attaching bracing and diaphragms. Riveting provides the durability to withstand the vibration of traffic loads. The same principles apply to steel-framed buildings, towers, cranes, transmission towers, and more.
Where especially strong connections are needed, high strength structural bolts are often used in place of rivets. However, rivets maintain an advantage in ease and speed of installation in the field. Riveting also better accommodates imperfect fit-up of parts during construction.
Heavy Equipment and Machinery
Earthmoving equipment, mining machinery, agricultural equipment, and other heavy gear utilizes rivets throughout its structures. The ruggedness and reliability of rivets resist loosening under prolonged vibration and shock loads. Manufacturing efficiency also makes rivets ideal for large machinery where thousands of fasteners must be installed.
Rivets join cab structures, attach vital components like wheels and tracks, and assemble gearboxes and drive trains on heavy equipment. In acidic environments or offshore applications, stainless steel or Monel rivets provide corrosion resistance. Riveting also reduces future maintenance needs versus threads that may corrode or vibrate loose over time.
Automotive Manufacturing
Automotive manufacturing was an early adopter of riveting technology due to its speed, economy, and strength. Self-piercing rivets allowed unskilled laborers on automotive factory floors to quickly join steel body panels. This facilitated large scale mass production of cars with steel bodies in the early 20th century.
While welding eventually displaced some riveting for car bodies, rivets remained ideal for internal frames and chassis components. Rivets continue seeing wide use in dashboards, consoles, seats, doors, hoods, trunks, and attachments where access allows only one-sided installation. Riveting's flexibility and reparability also suit auto manufacturing.
Appliances and Electronics
Sheet metal enclosures for appliances like washers, dryers, and refrigerators are frequently riveted for efficient production. Electronics also rely on rivets for assembling internal components and attaching panels. Rivets provide solid, durable fastening points for enclosures and chassis while allowing serviceability not possible with adhesives or welding.
The development of blind rivets enabled riveting of electronics where only one side is accessible. Consumer products also utilize specialty rivets like drive rivets and breakstem rivets that combine fastening and other functions. Plastics injection molding even allows for plastic rivets suited for appliances and electronics.
Trusses, Trailers, and Containers
Lightweight aluminum rivets assemble framing for commercial trailers and shipping containers where weight savings matter. Rivets also provide durable fastening for roof trusses, building frames, scaffolding, platforms, catwalks, and more. The shear strength of rivets suits them for structures subject to swaying motion or wind forces.
Plastics Fabrication and Repair
Blind plastic rivets offer a quick way to join plastics too thin or brittle to weld. Plastics subject to distortion from heat can instead be riveted. Many plastic products are assembled with rivets during initial fabrication. If broken, plastic parts like automotive bumpers, ATV bodies, kayaks, playground equipment and more can be repaired using blind rivets.
General Repair Work
Pop rivets are commonly found in toolboxes for general repair work. Pop rivets allow easy riveting of materials where only one side is accessible. Homeowners, mechanics, maintenance staff, and hobbyists all utilize pop rivets for repairs and fabrication involving sheet metal, plastic, fiberglass, wood, and more. Pop rivets come in a range of materials and sizes to suit various applications.
Rivets provide lasting fastening and joining across nearly all construction activities. Understanding their capabilities enables engineers and builders to take full advantage of rivets wherever an application calls for an economical, reliable, and rugged fastening solution. From aircraft to appliances, heavy machinery to delicate electronics, rivets rise to the task. CNC Milling CNC Machining