Rivet types
Assembled bolted joint
Manufacture:
Nuts and bolts
- Used primarily for structural, load-carrying joints, which are to be demountable for inspection, repair and maintenance.
- Fine threads should be used in preference to coarse threads where high strength is required.
Rivets
- Used primarily for “low strength” joints that cannot easily be disassembled for maintenance, inspection or repair.
- In addition to their basic function as fasteners, rivets can be used as pivot shafts, spacers, electrical contacts, stops and inserts.
- Lower cost than comparable threaded fasteners.
- Components can be assembled using high speed automatic riveting machines, at the rate of over 1000 assemblies per hour.
Materials:
Nuts and bolts
- A wide variety of metallic and non-metallic materials from complex precipitation-hardening alloys to thermoplastics.
- Choice of material depends on components being joined, type and magnitude of load, temperature and environment.
- Despite the large range of materials available, most nuts and bolts are made by hot or cold forging of mild or carbon steel.
- Temperature range of bolts is usually limited by stress relaxation.
- Typical steels for fasteners under different temperature ranges:
Temperature range (˚C) | Recommended material | |
Bolts | Nuts | |
-20 to 300 |
Mild or carbon steel |
Mild carbon steel |
-100 to 400 |
1% chromium-molybdenum steel |
Carbon-molybdenum steel |
0 to 450 |
1% chromium-molybdenum steel (higher Mo) |
Carbon steel |
0 to 500 |
12% chromium steel |
Carbon-molybdenum steel |
0 to 520 |
1% chromium-molybdenum-vanadium steel |
Carbon-molybdenum steel |
0 to 565 |
1% chromium-molybdenum-vanadium boron steel |
1% chromium-molybdenum steel |
-250 to 575 |
18/8 type chromium-nickel steel |
1% chromium-molybdenum steel |
-250 to 600 |
Chromium-nickel-molybdenum steel |
1% chromium-molybdenum steel |
-250 to 650 |
Nickel-chromium steel |
1% chromium-molybdenum steel |
-250 to 750 | Nimonics | 1% chromium-molybdenum steel |
Rivets
- A wide variety of metallic materials depending on components to be joined, type and magnitude of load, temperature and environment.
- The majority of rivets are made from steel, aluminium or brass, although a wide variety of other materials are available, such as high-alloy and stainless steels, and precious metals.
Design:
- There is a wide range of rivet, bolt, nut and washer designs. A selection is shown below.
See Also: Brazing, Soldering, Adhesive bonding, Diffusion bonding and Injected metal assembly.
This article is a part of Manupedia, a collection of information about some of the processes used to convert materials into useful objects.
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