Rivets are mechanical fasteners used to join materials. They come in various sizes and designs, including solid and blind rivets. Solid rivets require access from both sides for installation, while blind rivets only require access from one side. Specialized rivets exist for different materials and purposes. Rivets have been used since the Bronze Age and are still a reliable method of joining materials.
Rivets are fasteners used to mechanically join a wide variety of materials by expanding the shank or head of a formed pin through a snug-fitting hole in the material. Rivets are available in a variety of sizes, designs and materials, including high strength structural, tubular and blind rivets. Some types of rivets, especially heavy structural types, require one end of the rivet to be hammered or hammered into shape once the rivet is in place. Lighter rivets such as blind rivets are set, mostly by hand, using a special tool. Rivets are often used as decorative elements and can be made from metals such as brass or copper.
The rivet is one of the oldest types of mechanical fastening and has been used to fasten wood, leather and metal materials since the Bronze Age. While welding and brazing have largely replaced their use, properly installed rivets are also one of the strongest and most reliable methods of joining materials. Most rivets work on the principle of “flipping” or expanding the shank or head of a specially designed stud inserted through a snug hole in the materials to be joined. This forms a snug fit in the hole and the expanded head of the rivet prevents it from being pulled out.
Solid or structural rivet types consist of a straight round stud with a semi-circular head on one end. To install these rivets, a hole is drilled through both pieces of material only slightly larger than the shank of the stud, and the rivet is driven in until the head contacts the surface of the material. The hollow, or dovetail, end of the pin is then hammered in using a hammer or power tool to expand it and form a second head. This firmly joins the two pieces of material and prevents the rivet from pulling out, forming a secure joint. Solid rivet types require material to be accessible from both sides for installation.
Blind rivets are more complex in construction, but are easier to install, require access from only one side of the material, and are generally used in lighter duty applications. They consist of a hollow tubular stud with a head on one end resembling a solid rivet and a special nail running through it to protrude beyond its head. The nail has an enlarged ball at the end that is too large to fit through the post and has weakening cuts around its circumference just above the ball. To set a blind rivet, it is driven into a hole in the material in the same manner as a solid rivet, after which a special tool is used to progressively pull the nail towards the head. This causes the pin to deform and expand to form a head, and if pulled hard enough, the nail breaks at the weakening shear leaving the expanded pin in the hole to join the material.
Other types of rivets include low gauge hollow rivets which are typically used to join leather or fabrics, drive rivets and semi-tubular rivets. Most aircraft skins are attached using a large number of highly specialized friction lock rivets which are countersunk to offer little or no drag during flight. Some types of specialized rivets are self-drilling and do not require pre-drilling the holes, piercing the material itself during installation. Others are used purely for decorative purposes and are mostly made from brass or copper.
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