Introduction(molding material Leona)
- Time:
- Click:9
- source:BREDA CNC Machining
Rivets have been used for thousands of years, dating back to the Bronze Age. They were originally made of bronze, copper or iron. Today, rivets are commonly made from steel, aluminum, titanium or specialty alloys. The rivet material and design depends on the application and material being joined.
Rivets come in a variety of head styles, shapes and sizes. Some of the most common rivet types are solid rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets and specialty rivets like tubular or split rivets. Each rivet type has advantages for certain applications and materials.
In this article, we’ll provide an overview of the most common uses and applications for various rivet types across industries like manufacturing, construction, aviation, infrastructure and more.
Uses in Manufacturing
Rivets have wide ranging uses in manufacturing and fabrication. Here are some of the most common manufacturing applications:
- Joining metal parts and assembling machinery. Steel solid rivets and blind rivets are used extensively for assembling mechanical parts, tools, equipment, appliances, vehicles and more. Rivets provide a strong, permanent joint.
- Joining sheets and plates. Aluminum and steel rivets secure stacked sheets and plates in applications like storage bins, shelving, stairs, cabinets, electronic enclosures and automotive parts. Rivets evenly distribute shear loads.
- Securing hardware. Nuts, bolts, hinges, handles and other hardware components are often riveted in place for permanent, tamper-proof installation. Drive rivets allow for quick, reliable hardware attachment.
- Attaching nameplates and labels. Information and branding plates are frequently attached with specialty rivets like drive screws or large flange rivets. This provides durable label attachment.
- Joining non-metals. Plastics, composites and other non-metals can be riveted together and to metal components for lightweight, mixed material assemblies. Specialty polymer or nylon rivets are used.
- Permanent fastening. Rivets form a permanent, non-reversible joint. This makes them advantageous for assemblies that require a tamper-proof, failsafe connection.
Uses in Construction
Rivets have been used in construction since the early 1900s to build bridges, buildings, towers and more. Here are some of the most prominent uses for rivets in the construction industry:
- Structural steel connections. Steel structures use thousands of rivets for beam/column joints, bracing connections, truss joints, girder splices and more. The rivets handle shear, tension and torsional loads.
- Securing rebar. Rebar intersections in concrete structures are tied together with small steel rivets. This prevents rebar cages from shifting during concrete pours.
- Façade and cladding attachment. Aluminum, bronze and stainless steel rivets attach curtain wall panels, window frames, insulation, siding, roofing panels and other building exterior cladding.
- Securing HVAC and plumbing fixtures. Ducts, pipes, conduit and equipment often get riveted in place for permanent, reliable installation. Stainless steel and aluminum rivets withstand vibration and corrosion.
- Assembling scaffolding and formwork. Steel rivets provide high strength connections for temporary structures like concrete forms and access scaffolding used during construction.
- Joining studs in framing. Steel framing studs can be joined end-to-end with metal gusset plates and rivets when full length studs don’t fit dimensions.
- Permanent structural connections. Rivets provide robust, permanent structural joints. Many building codes permit only rivet, bolt or weld connections for critical structural assemblies.
Uses in Infrastructure
Civil infrastructure projects like bridges, towers, pipelines, railways, power plants and more rely extensively on rivets, here’s how:
- Assembling steel bridges. Structural steel bridges require millions of rivets to connect beams, bracing, decking, railings and other components. Rivets withstand tension, compression and vibration.
- Tower and pole assembly. Cell phone, radio, power and utility towers use rivets to assemble framed tower structures from steel sections. The rivets form strong wind-load bearing connections.
- Securing water pipes. Below ground water mains and municipal pipelines are assembled in sections using steel rivets for permanent, leakproof joints that can last decades underground.
- Joining railway tracks. Sections of railway tracks are joined together using steel track bolts and rivets. This provides smooth, fixed rail connections that handle heavy railcar traffic.
- Assembling power line structures. Steel lattice structures like electricity pylons are assembled from steel members using thousands of rivets in each tower for strength and rigidity.
- Securing crane and gantry structures. Large steel fabrication projects like cranes, conveyors, material handling structures and storage tank frames use rivets for structural joints.
- Permanent underwater fastening. Stainless steel and aluminum rivets secure components on dams, ports, bridges and offshore platforms located underwater where access is limited.
Uses in Aviation and Aerospace
Aircraft and spacecraft make extensive use of specialty rivets, here are some applications:
- Aircraft skin and structure. Hundreds of thousands of lightweight aluminum and titanium rivets hold together airplane fuselage skins, wings, body frameworks and control surfaces.
- Securing stringers and ribs. Aircraft stringers and ribs that provide structure and shape to wings and fuselages are attached with rows of flush rivets.
- Fastening hinges and hardware. Flap hinges, landing gear struts, doors and other aircraft hardware are securely mounted with steel drive rivets.
- Aerospace thermal expansion. Rivets that allow for thermal expansion differences are used on spacecraft and booster assemblies that undergo extreme temperature changes.
- Securing insulation. Fiberglass, ceramic and heat shield insulation panels on spacecraft and jets are held in place using specialty rivets suited for composite materials.
- Critical structural connections. Aircraft and spacecraft use rivets rather than less reliable fasteners like screws or bolts for critical structural joints.
- Repair and maintenance. Mechanics rivet replacement parts during aircraft repair and maintenance for fast, permanent attachments matched to existing rivet joint design.
- Joining non-metallic materials. Nylon, plastic and fiber-reinforced polymer parts on aircraft and spacecraft are riveted using specialty polymer or plastic rivets.
Conclusion
Rivets have proven their versatility and reliability for joining materials across countless industrial and structural applications. As one of the oldest mechanical fasteners still in widespread use, rivet design and technology continue advancing to provide even stronger, more efficient and easier to install permanent joints. Thanks to their strength, permanence and cost effectiveness, rivets will continue playing a vital role in manufacturing and construction for the foreseeable future. CNC Milling CNC Machining