Uses for Rivets in Manufacturing and Construction(stiffness of material Andrea)
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- source:JUSTYN CNC Machining
Rivets have been used since ancient times in applications like boat building and armor making. Today, rivets continue to be widely used in many industries. Some of the main uses for rivets include:
Aircraft Construction
Rivets are extensively used in aircraft construction to assemble the frame and skin of the plane. Aircraft grade rivets are made from lightweight and strong materials like aluminum alloys, steel, titanium, or nickel. The rivets used in aircraft are precisely manufactured and heat treated for optimal strength.
When constructing an aircraft, thousands of rivets are used to join pieces of the airframe. The rivets allow the stresses and vibrations endured during flight to be distributed efficiently across the entire structure. Using rivets results in a smooth outer surface that reduces drag. Rivets also allow for easy repairs and replacements of damaged parts.
Bridges and Infrastructure
Structural rivets are used in the construction of bridges, towers, cranes, transmission towers, and other infrastructure projects. They are used to connect structural steel members. The large rivets used in these applications may be over an inch in diameter.
Structural rivets are usually made from carbon steels. The thick shafts and wide heads distribute forces over a greater area, providing superb strength. Rivets are favored over welds in some instances because the holes allow for minor adjustment during alignment of structural members. Riveted connections are also resistant to fatigue failures.
Shipbuilding
Rivets continue to be the preferred fastener for boat hull construction. The extensive use of rivets allows shipbuilders to create structures that can withstand the constant stresses of weight, buoyancy, waves, and motion. Stainless steel and copper rivets provide strength without corrosion when used on ships.
Boat builders rely on rivets because they allow some flexibility in the structure. A hull experiences expansion and contraction from temperature changes and twisting forces from wave action. Rivets accommodate this movement better than welds. Riveted joints are also resistant to the effects of corrosion and electrolysis common around saltwater.
Automotive Manufacturing
Self-piercing rivets (SPRs) are commonly used in automotive manufacturing for joining components of the vehicle frame and body. SPRs combine the punching and riveting action in one operation, piercing a hole as the rivet shaft inserts into the materials being joined. This method is faster and more efficient than drilling holes beforehand.
SPRs create strong permanent joints between materials like steel, aluminum alloys, magnesium, fiberglass, and carbon fibers. They are ideal for robot automated assembly lines. Riveting also allows for efficient repairs and replacements of damaged body panels. The automotive industry relies on advanced rivet technology for high-strength and corrosion resistant fasteners.
Appliances and Electronics
Pop rivets are used extensively in the manufacture of appliances like washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers. These specialized rivets have a pre-installed stem that is pulled to flare the rivet head. Pop rivets allow assemblers to quickly and easily fasten components in tight spaces and fragile materials.
Rivets are also commonly used inside electronic devices to secure internal parts like circuit boards, drive bays, and batteries. Precision micro rivets are designed specifically for electronics manufacturing. They provide reliable permanent fastening while resisting shock, vibration, and corrosion.
Construction and Home Repairs
Standard rivets continue to be ubiquitous in construction projects and home repairs. They are used to fasten roofing materials, siding, railings, drainage systems, and much more. Rivets provide high shear strength for these demanding applications.
Hand riveting tools allow DIYers to quickly install rivets for repairs and renovations. Some common home uses include fastening vinyl siding, securing gutter hangers, building deck railings, attaching covering materials, hanging pictures and mirrors, and assembling projects. Rivets come in many materials, head styles, and finishes to meet any home need.
Aerospace Rivets
Aircraft construction relies heavily on specialty rivets engineered explicitly for aerospace applications. The FAA maintains strict standards for the manufacture, testing, and certification of all aircraft rivets. Aerospace rivets are precision-made from ultra-strong yet lightweight materials.
Aluminum alloy rivets are most common in aircraft construction. Heat treating enhances their strength while maintaining ductility and toughness. Aircraft rivets are also made from corrosion resistant materials like titanium. Nickel alloy rivets provide both corrosion resistance and high strength at both low and high temperatures.
Aircraft rivets must withstand tremendous stresses from turbulence, changes in air pressure, engine vibrations, and landing impacts. Premium surface finishes prevent galling and binding between rivet and hole during service. Extensive testing also ensures rivets meet mandated standards for shear strength, fatigue resistance, and more.
Automotive Rivets
Automotive manufacturing has adopted specialized rivets tailored specifically for use in vehicle construction. Self-piercing rivets efficiently join pieces of the frame, body panels, and other components. They create very strong joints that can withstand road vibrations, impacts, and corrosion.
Self-piercing rivets combine the punching and riveting action in a single operation. SPRs pierce through stacked sheets while mechanically flaring to form the second head. This avoids the need for pre-drilled holes. Automated SPR installation allows high-volume vehicle production.
Other rivets designed for automotive use include large structural rivets for joining frame members, hardened steel rivets for penetrating stacked gears, and drive screw rivets for easy fastening of auto body parts. Blind rivets are ideal for securing panels and fastening interior components where access is limited.
Marine Grade Rivets
The marine environment is extremely demanding, requiring the use of rivets manufactured explicitly for boat building and offshore applications. Marine grade rivets feature premium corrosion resistance and strength for long service life.
Marine rivets are commonly made from stainless steel, copper alloys, and aluminum. Stainless steel provides the best corrosion resistance, especially in saltwater. Copper rivets also resist saltwater corrosion. Aluminum rivets offer an excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
In addition, marine rivets feature enhanced weather resistance and specialty coatings. Thick platings, anodized finishes, and epoxy coatings prevent oxidation and galvanic corrosion. Large head styles distribute load over a wider area on the hull. Overall, marine grade rivets provide reliable fastening even in the most demanding ocean environments.
Structural Steel Rivets
Massive rivets are used to connect structural steel members in the construction of buildings, bridges, towers, cranes, and support structures. Structural steel rivets range from 1/4 inches to over 1 inch in diameter. They are usually ASTM A502 carbon steel grade for optimal strength.
The large shaft diameter allows structural rivets to withstand immense shear stresses and forces. Structural rivets come with a domed or countersunk head to sit flush on beams and girders. They efficiently transfer loads between structural members and welded connections.
Installation requires pneumatic riveting tools delivering several tons of force to deform the rivet. Structural steel riveting provides superior fatigue resistance compared to welds. Rivets also accommodate shifts between members and are easier to replace than welds. Overall, these large rivets form an incredibly strong mechanical connection.
Blind Rivets
Blind rivets provide permanent fastening in applications where access is only available from one side. They come preassembled with a mandrel through the center. As the rivet is installed, the mandrel is pulled to flare the blind side of the rivet.
Blind rivets are ideal for fastening sheet metal, plastic, fiberglass, and other fragile materials. The flaring action draws the joint together tightly without distorting or cracking the surrounding materials. No special tools are needed for installation.
Common blind rivets have mushroom shaped heads. Countersunk blind rivets allow flush installation against a surface. Multi-grip types can join varying material thicknesses. Blind rivets see wide usage in auto manufacturing, HVAC systems, appliances, electronics, aircraft interiors, and more.
Micro Rivets
Extremely small micro rivets find usage fastening precision components where space is tight. Electronics manufacturing utilizes micro rivets with diameters from 0.5mm to 5mm to secure circuit boards, processors, and other internal parts. Aircraft systems also employ micro rivets.
Micro riveting requires specialized tools to deliver the proper force within the tiny scales involved. Automated machines allow high speed precision riveting during electronics assembly. Fine tolerances and specialty materials like stainless steel or Monel alloys ensure reliable fastening.
Overall, micro rivets take the strength and permanence of traditional riveting and scale it down for small-scale applications. Industries demanding precision and miniaturization depend on these tiny yet high-strength fasteners.
This covers the most common uses for various types of rivets across manufacturing and construction. Rivets continue to offer reliable permanent fastening in demanding environments where performance and safety are critical. Improved alloys and specialized designs tailor rivets for optimal strength within their intended applications. With an extensive history and diverse implementations, the simple rivet remains an essential fastening solution. CNC Milling CNC Machining