What Is a Rivet, Features, Working, & Uses

The rivet is used for making a permanent connection between two materials and handling vibrations and forces, compared to screw force handling features. Different types of rivets are employed for different operations. It is a cylindrical structure with a round-shaped head, and the stem has a protrusion.

In this post we will cover the detailed features of Rivet and practical working. Let’s get started. What Is a Rivet?

What is a Rivet?

A rivet is used to make a connection of two or more materials, also known as a mechanical fastener. A rivet comes with a head that is connected to an end that is known as a shaft.
The shaft is tapered and is also called the tail. Its structure is like a metallic pin. Rivets connect larger materials and small electronic components.
A rivet can come with a head on each end that handles high-tension loads. So this tool easily handles shear loads.

Rivets working process

For working on a rivet, first a hole is drilled in the material. rivet put into holes. The tail changes shape with mechanical force through the hammer.
The tail expands to about 1.5 times the real shaft diameter to hold the rivet at a position between materials.
The deformation changes the tail, making it flat makes it dumbbell-shaped. real head design of the rivet called the factory head, and the changed shape of the end known as ‘buck-tail.’
Rivet support tension for every end of the structure. Permanently deshaped the head at the end point to avoid the rivet detaching through the drilled hole.
The rivet shaft stops radial motion. Rivets are used for permanent connections made with the welding process.
But if you make a comparison, you find that welded connections bear lower vibrations than rivets, which shows high resistance to vibrations in making a connection.

Riveting Process Meaning

Riveting is basically a forging process that is used to connect different parts by using a metallic component called a rivet.
Rivets basically connect parts at neighboring surfaces. A straight metallic part connected to materials. Both ends made a connection, making the connection assembly strong.
The riveting process is normally employed for construction materials.

Differnt types of rivets

There are different types of rivets that exist that make connections of different materials. commonly used types are as

Solid rivet

A solid rivet comes with a shaft having a head at the side. The tail of the solid rivet changes with the help of the rivet gun for maintaining position.

Split rivet

• A split rivet comes with a design where the shaft is divided for create a larger area when passed in a joint. The rivet comes with a sharp end point and increases the surface area that easily comes out from leather, plastic, and wood-like materials.
Split rivets are commonly employed for repairing working

Threaded rivet

These blinds come with blind rivets, which come with an inner threaded structure and hollow shaft. This rivet is threaded over the mandrel on the rivet gun.
mandrel is pulled in the shaft, which affects the shaft. Blind rivets are of solid design and come with ridges at the external layout that provide a strong connection between pilot holes.

Semi-tubular rivet

This rivet comes with a hole at the end of the tail, as a solid rivet has. A hole helps the shaft to move in the outer direction due to force, and uses low force for the connection of materials

Blind rivet

A blind rivet, also called a pop rivet, is used where one side of a joint is difficult to access. It employs a rivet gun for pulling out the mandrel in the hollow shaft of the rivet when put in holes for connection between surfaces.
mandrel changes the rivet body structure, and the riveter quickly connects materials where single-sided access is observed.

Friction lock rivet

A friction lock rivet, also called a self-plugging rivet, is also a subtype of blind rivet that works with the inner pressure of a stem that is inserted into a hollow sleeve that causes shaft expansion, and with this pressure, connects materials.

Self-piercing rivet

Self-piercing rivets, also called SPRs, do not need pre-made holes, as other types do. sprs coldly forged into a semi-tubular structure, and the end layout comes with a groove that helps the rivet make a connection with materials. This rivet helps to make a watertight joint.

Oscar Rivet

- The Oscar rivet is like a blind rivet, with the difference that its shaft faces split and folds when the mandrel is drawn in the rivet.
- Oscar rivets are preferred for applications where high vibrations cause difficulty for rear area access.

Riveted Joint: different types

A rivet joint is a permanent connection made with two parts connected with a rivet having a head at the upper side and a tail at the lower end.

Riveted joints are like bolted connections, as rivets pass through CFRPs and, at the lower part, aluminum alloy and aluminum alloy are flared into aluminum alloys with a die, causing a strong connection.

The main types of riveted joints are as follows.

Lap joint

A rivet joint is a permanent connection made with two parts connected with a rivet having a head at the upper side and a tail at the lower end. Riveted joints are like bolted connections, as rivets pass through CFRPs and, at the lower part, aluminum alloy and aluminum alloy are flared into aluminum alloys with a die, causing a strong connection.The main types of riveted joints are as follows.

Calculation of rivet size

Rivets have different dimensions with width and length. This material is used for fastening materials, so rivets are important for finding surface area for strength and structural stability.
Rivets fit with the pilot hole on the surface and work accurately.

Some features of rivet dimensions are as

Length of rivet: addition of the thickness of all riveted materials, with 1.5 times the rivet diameter.
A rivet is small, which causes rivet pulling in materials rivet shaft is thin and easily sheared with the application of pressure.
Choose a rivet with a diameter 3 times the thickness of the high-thickness connection materials.
For making a connection of two metallic sheets with 2 mm thickness, choose a diameter of rivet of about 6 mm.
The 6.35 mm rivet is best to use. Set the rivet length to about 9.5 mm.

Installation Methods for Rivets

There are different tools and installation methods used for rivet installation according to the application’s demand and rivet type.

Rivet Guns:

This tool is commonly used for connecting blind rivets, which provide easy connection assembly.

Hand Tools

Simple hammers and anvils are employed for setting solid rivets, which are used for the conventional metalworking process.

Pneumatic Riveters:

This tool has high power and gives a speedy process to perform heavy-duty applications normally employed in industrial settings.

The selection factor of Rivet

different factors involved for the selection of a rivet for performing different processes.

Material

Use a rivet made with the same or supported material for component connection since during component connection, it avoids corrosion and makes a strong assembly.
aluminum rivets paired to aluminum materials for preventing galvanic corrosion and making a strong connection.
These materials are used for applications where high temperature and moisture are involved, since using different materials affects the quality.
If we use accurate materials for rivets, it increases longevity and makes strong connections.

Strength

In different processes certain strength and load-bearing features are needed. In projects where high weight loading is needed, like in the vehicle construction industry, steel-made rivets are used since they have good strength and a durable design.
In the aviation and electronics industries, where low weight is the main factor, aluminum rivets are preferred.
properly make sure of the load demand of the project, that it uses the required rivet materials for maintaining strength and structure when pressure is involved

Environmental factor

environmental conditions, where rivets are also important for a strong connection.
In outdoor applications high humidity is involved and harsh chemicals work, so the best is to use corrosion-resistant rivets, like stainless steel, having protective finishes.
This material maintains rivet quality and avoids rusting and degradation.
For indoor processes, since moisture and corrosion are not involved, aluminum or steel rivets are preferred.

Advantages of rivets

It is low cost and helps to connect different materials like aluminum and copper-made plates.
It is user- and environment-friendly since no gases or fumes occur during welding.
It makes strong connections that can handle vibrations.
Joints made with rivets are strong compared to welding joints.

Disadvantages

Riveting needs more labor compared to welding. It also needed different functions, like drilling holes that increase rivet connection cost.
It applied high stress on rivet holes from the metal plate connections.
It also makes weak holes during operations on plates. So more thickness is needed to solve this error. These high thickness demands cause high use of metal.
Strap plates and rivets cause more weight in welding joints since they use strap plates.
Riveted joints are heavy compared to welding and brazing.
Its connection also causes leaking, so hot rivets are needed for rivets.
Riveting also causes more noise than welding since it involves hammer blows.

Application of riveted joints

The main uses of rivets for different industries are as

Rivet connections are permanent, so connect fastening sheets strongly to and shaped rolled metal.
It is also employed for making aircraft designs since aluminum is used.
It also makes bus structures where heavily loaded joints are needed.
metals and their welding features. Not good; a rivet was used to make the connection.
It is also used for heterogeneous materials such as friction lining and steel.
It is used where welding causes high effects, and its joints easily handle vibrations.
It is part of a double cover plate joint connection.
It provides high strength at a low cost with low-weight features.
It helps to make metallic bridges, boilers, and pressure tanks.
Rivets also make parts of aircraft, ships, boxes, etc.

Conclusion

A rivet is a strong connection-making tool that is part of different industries. If you use the proper type of rivet according to the required applications, it helps to get optimal features in different assemblies.
Its features help to choose accurate rivets for different projects and make strong connections according to requirements.