Mathematical Modeling of Unequal Rivets’ Shearing Load Distribution

Most of the cracks in the airframe are generated around the outer rivets hole which shows high load is applying to those rivets. One of the factors which cause unequal load distribution through the rivets is elastic deformation of the structure which leads to applying high load to some of the rivets that cannot be calculated via conventional methods of designing rivet joints. In this study, two sheets that were joined together via rivets have been modeled to probe the effect of the elastic deformation of the sheets and rivets on the stress concentration on the outer rivets. The results show with increasing the number of rivet rows, stress concentration on the outer rivets is increasing. Also, the decoration of the rivets directly affects the stress concentration on the outer rows. Comparing the results of this study with other experimental results confirms accuracy of the modeling. The findings of this study can help the engineers to reduce the stress concentration on the outer rivets and distribute the load equally among the rivets only with wisely decoration of the rivets.

Keywords:

Rivet , Load distribution , Elastic deformation , Fatigue failure , Mathematical modeling.