Tips to simplify designsRiveting is not considered a riveting subject by most. It’s an ancient and validated method that seems dull – but a closer examination shows it to be absolutely central to the existence of many of the most up-to-the-moment areas of technology.
It has been used for so long that an ancient Greek swordsmith would recognize his art in the construction of an orbital launch vehicle! As one of the oldest and most reliable attachment methods, rivets are used to hold two or more pieces of material together – from an aircraft wing to a kitchen knife, from a suitcase handle to a bridge.
Rivets are extensively employed in situations where welding or fastening by other means are not practical or are more costly. The versatility and strength of rivets makes them a reliable and low cost choice across diverse industries, from aerospace and automotive to shipbuilding and construction.
The widely recognized advantages of riveting over alternatives such as welding make it the right solution in aircraft.
- Lower risk of fracture than welded jointing, with the exception of some results from friction-stir welding.
- Easier disassembly of parts of an airframe for repairs, with complete reuse of undamaged parts, impossible in welded construction.
Here we explore the main types of rivets, their uses, advantages, and key characteristics. Please note, this is not an all encompassing review, as there are many sub-varieties that have niche applications.
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Types of Rivets
Rivets are among the most widespread and diverse sectors in fastenings. This is an overview of the main categories with a breakdown of their form, function and applications.
1. Solid Rivets
Solid rivets are the most storied and common type used. They are made from a solid piece of metal with a pre-formed, upset-forged head at one end, and an installation-formed head created to compress the pieced materials into a permanent composite. These are used in applications that require permanent, durable fastening, where both ends of the rivet are accessible.
Solid rivets are installed by inserting them through aligned holes in the materials to be joined, then deforming the tail end by hammer, or compression-forming to form a “clinch” or “buck tail.” This deformation creates a tightly compressing hold that secures the materials permanently.
Applications:
Solid rivets are often used in accessible areas of aircraft construction, steel framing, and heavy machinery, providing considerable strength and durability. The permanent nature of solid rivets makes them ideal for applications where the joints are not expected to be dismantled.
Advantages:
- Strong and durable fastening
- Excellent shear and tensile strength
- Provides a clean, smooth surface, when countersunk heads are used.
- Can be used in high-stress environments.
Disadvantages:
- Permanent, difficult to remove
- Requires access to both sides of the workpiece for installation.
2. Blind Rivets
Blind, or pop rivets, are a tubular type that can be installed from only one side of the material, making them ideal for situations where access to both sides of the workpiece is limited. This is achieved by means of a preinserted pulled-expander or mandrel which distorts the rivet on the non-accessible side to create a buck that, when fully formed, then breaks the head off the mandrel, completing the joint.
They are commonly used in applications where a fast and simple installation process is required – and they are widely employed as a convenient and rapidly set option.
Applications:
Blind rivets are widely used in industries such as automotive, electronics, consumer goods and construction, particularly but far from exclusively in situations where obverse side accessibility is limited. They are also used in sheet metal, plastics, extrusions and diverse specialist applications, where a quick and effective fastening solution is needed.
Advantages:
- Can be installed from one side.
- Quick and easy to install at low cost-per-joint.
- Available in various materials, including aluminum, steel, monel, and stainless steel.
- Can be used in hard-to-reach areas.
- Require limited skill in installation .
Disadvantages:
- Less strong than solid rivets.
- Not ideal for high-stress applications.
- Incomplete formation mandrel breakage can occasionally occur during installation.
4. Cherry Rivets
Cherry rivets are a subset type of blind or pop rivet that is particularly popular in the aerospace industry. They are designed for use in situations where higher strength and one-sided installation are required. Cherry rivets are made in various sizes and materials and can be installed using a simple, one-sided installation process, functionally identical to pop-rivets except the mandrel is typically of higher precision and enhances the formed-rivet strength and stiffness rather than being discarded in the forming.
Applications:
Cherry rivets are commonly used in the aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing industries, where high strength and precision are demanded.
Advantages:
- Strong and durable
- Can be installed from one side.
- Available in various materials
Disadvantages:
- Requires specialized tools for installation.
- Can be more expensive than other types of rivets.
5. Semi-Tubular Rivets
Semi-tubular rivets are solid rivets but with a partial hole in the center of the body, on the installation-formed end. This hole reduces the amount of material needed and allows low-force buck formation by rolling the tubular tail, which renders them somewhat lighter and low cost to install. The installation process for semi-tubular rivets is similar to that of solid rivets, but the design allows for easier deformation and a more consistent fastening process.
Applications:
Semi-tubular rivets are often used in applications requiring less material and weight, such as in the manufacturing of consumer goods, automotive parts, and light structural components.
Advantages:
- Lighter and lower per-joint cost than solid rivets.
- Easier to install
- Suitable for mass production
Disadvantages:
- Not as strong as solid rivets
- Can be less resilient under vibrating loads.
6. Drive Rivets
Drive rivets are installed using a hammer or a special driving tool. These rivets do not require a mandrel, and the installation process involves simply driving the rivet into place until it is securely fastened. Drive rivets are designed to form a strong bond when the body of the rivet is deformed during installation.
This is achieved by three distinct methods.
- One type, called hammer drive rivets, have spiral ribs on their length and they bite into the whole wall to hold parts together by radial distortion of both the rivet and the hole wall.
- Another type uses a hammered or otherwise driven central pin that causes the diameter of the rivet rail to expand. These are sometimes called exploding rivets. This spreading can be a result of axial splits/cuts along the rivet body, forming legs that are forced apart by the pin. It can also be achieved by driving a parallel pin into a tapered blind hole into the rivet, expanding the rivet while leaving it closed or blind.
- A further type, often termed self piecing rivets, or clinch nuts, use local distortion of a tubular piece element with an internal or external mandrel to piece and spread the tubular element within the sheet metal. These typically leave an upstanding threaded receptacle on the surface as a hard point for mounting
Applications:
Drive rivets are commonly used in applications such as automotive, construction, and electronic assembly. They are particularly useful in situations where speed and ease of installation are important and axial loads are light.
Advantages:
- Simple and quick installation process
- Suitable for high-speed assembly lines
- Can be used in a variety of materials, including plastic, metal, and wood.
- Suitable for resisting shear loads
Disadvantages:
- May not provide the same level of strength as other types of rivets.
- Difficult to remove once installed
- Less well suited to axially loaded applications.
7. Split Rivets
Split or bifurcated rivets are designed with a split or forked tail. When installed, the tails are typically curled or folded outwards to form a tight hold clamping the material being fastened. These rivets are often used in applications where the rivet must grip soft materials or where a large surface area is required for the fastener.
Applications:
Split rivets are used in a wide range of applications, including upholstery, leatherworking, and some types of electrical connections. They are particularly useful for fastening soft materials like cloth or leather.
Advantages:
- Excellent for fastening soft or thin materials.
- Provides a large surface area for a secure grip.
- Easy to install
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for high-stress or high-temperature applications.
- Can be less durable than other types of rivets.
Types of Rivets and their material choices
This table provides an overview of common rivet types, their typical applications, and the materials they are available in.
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Rivet head types and why they matter
This table outlines common rivet head types, their characteristics, and the benefits they offer in different applications.
Each rivet head type is designed to optimize performance in different applications, balancing factors like strength, aerodynamics, aesthetics, and load distribution.
Conclusion
Rivets are a key fastener system used in a wide variety of applications, each benefiting from unique characteristics of the various types, depending on the specific requirements of the task.
The different styles and processes of solid, blind, and semi-tubular rivets, provide diverse solutions for everything from lightweight consumer goods to heavy industrial machinery and infrastructure projects.
Understanding the various types of rivets and their respective advantages and disadvantages ensures that the right fastener is selected for each specific application, optimizing performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
