Machine design Riveted Joint

 Riveted Joint

Often small machine components are joined together to form a larger machine part.

Design of joints is as important as that of machine components because a weak joint may spoil the utility of a carefully designed machine part. Mechanical joints are broadly classified into two classes viz., non-permanent joints and permanent joints. Non-permanent joints can be assembled and dissembled without damaging the components. Examples of such joints are threaded fasteners (like screw-joints), keys and couplings etc. 

Permanent joints cannot be dissembled without damaging the components. These joints can be of two kinds depending upon the nature of force that holds the two parts. The force can be of mechanical origin, for example, riveted joints, joints formed by press or interference fit etc, where two components are joined by applying mechanical force. The components can also be joined by molecular force, for example, welded joints, brazed joints, joints with adhesives etc. Not until long ago riveted joints were very often used to join structural members permanently. However, significant improvement in welding and bolted joints has curtained the use of these joints. Even then, rivets are used in structures, ship body, bridge, tanks and shells, where high joint strength is required 

ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE DESIGN OF RIVETED JOINT

Procedure for design of a riveted joint is simplified by making the following assumptions and by keeping in view the safety of the joint.

1. Load is assumed to be uniformly distributed among all the rivets

2. Stress in plate is assumed to be uniform

3. Shear stress is assumed to be uniformly distributed over the gross area of rivets

4. Bearing stress is assumed to be uniform between the contact surfaces of plate and rivet

5. Bending stress in rivet is neglected

6. Rivet hole is assumed to be completely filled by the rivet

7. Friction between plates is neglected

Rivets and riveting
A Rivet is a short cylindrical rod having a head and a tapered tail. The main body of
the rivet is called shank

According to Indian standard specifications rivet heads are of various types. Rivets
heads for general purposes are specified by Indian standards IS: 2155-1982 (below 12 mm diameter) and IS: 1929-1982 (from 12 mm to 48 mm diameter). Rivet heads used for boiler works are specified by IS: 1928-1978. 
Riveting is an operation whereby two plates are joined with the help of a rivet. Adequate mechanical force is applied to make the joint strong and leak proof. Smooth holes are drilled (or punched and reamed) in two plates to be joined and the rivet is inserted. Holding, then, the head by means of a backing up bar  necessary force is applied at the tail end with a die until the tail deforms plastically to the required shape. Depending upon whether the rivet is initially heated or not, the riveting operation can be of two types:

 (a) cold riveting is done at ambient temperature and

 (b) hot riveting rivets are initially heated before applying force. After riveting is done, the joint is heat-treated by quenching and tempering. In order to ensure leak-proofness of the joints, when it is required, additional operation like caulking is done 

Types of rivet joints

Riveted joints are mainly of two types
1. Lap joints
2. Butt joints 

Lap joints
The plates that are to be joined are brought face to face such that an overlap exists,Rivets are inserted on the overlapping portion. Single or multiple rows of rivets are used to give strength to the joint. Depending upon the number of rows the riveted joints may be classified as single riveted lap joint, double or triple riveted lap joint etc. When multiple joints are used, the arrangement of rivets between two neighbouring rows may be of two kinds. In chain riveting the adjacent rows have rivets in the same transverse line. In zig-zag riveting, on the other hand, the adjacent rows of rivets are staggered.

But joints
In this type of joint, the plates are brought to each other without forming any overlap.
Riveted joints are formed between each of the plates and one or two cover plates. Depending upon the number of cover plates the butt joints may be single strap or double strap butt joints. Like lap joints, the arrangement of the rivets may be of various kinds, namely, single row, double or triple chain or zigzag.

Important terms used in rivet joints

Few parameters, which are required to specify arrangement of rivets in a riveted joint are as follows:
a) Pitch: This is the distance between two centers of the consecutive rivets in a single row. (usual symbol p)
b) Back Pitch: This is the shortest distance between two successive rows in a multiple riveted joint. (usual symbol bp)
c) Diagonal pitch: This is the distance between the centers of rivets in adjacent rows of zigzag riveted joint. (usual symbol pd)
d) Margin or marginal pitch: This is the distance between the centre of the rivet hole to the nearest edge of the plate. (usual symbol m)

Modes of failure of rivet joints
(1) Tearing of the plate at the edge: Figure shows the nature of failure due to tearing
of the plate at the edge. Such a failure occurs due to insufficient margin. This type of failure can be avoided by keeping margin, m = 1.5d, where d is the diameter of the rivet.

(2) Tearing of the plate across a row of rivets: In this, the main plate or cover plates may tear-off across a row of rivets, as shown in Fig. Considering one pitch length,
Tearing strength per pitch length, Ft = σ t ( p - d)t 
Where, σ t = permissible tensile stress for the plate material; p = pitch; d = diameter of the rivet; t = thickness of the plate.

(3) Shearing of rivets: Rivets are in single shear in lap joints and in double shear in double strap butt joints  Considering one pitch length,

(4) Crushing of rivets (plates): When the joint is loaded, compressive stress is induced
over the contact area between rivet and the plate