Types of rivets, characteristics, installation, applications

In the general family of fasteners, the rivet is considered one of the most reliable locking options. It is distinguished by the possibility of forming a closed fastening ligament, which determines the strength and durability of the connected structure. Another thing is that the use of the through-principle of fastening is not always technically feasible. However, there are different types of rivets, differing in design and other characteristics, which makes it possible to effectively use them in various fields.

Main characteristics of fasteners

From the point of view of choosing this hardware, the main characteristic is the size. Several parameters are taken into account, among which is the diameter of the rod. It can be from 1 to 36 mm with a length of 2 to 180 mm. In this case, do not think that a large thickness is directly related to the strength of the rivet. Steel core parts 10 mm thick can be much stronger than copper tubular elements, whose diameter exceeds 20 mm. However, much depends on the nature of the loads - it is sometimes more profitable to use thin-walled tubular parts.

Models of rivets with a low semicircular head just have a small range of thicknesses - from 1 to 10 mm, and the length in this case varies from 4 to 80 mm. Products with a flat hat have a thickness in the spectrum of 2-36 mm with a length of 4-180 mm. The most long parts are semi-secret rivets that can be used in niches of about 200 mm depth.

Classification by design

There are many versions and modifications of this hardware. The standard is the spacer element, which is used in the connection of loose, soft and fragile building materials. The reverse head of this rivet is folded during the assembly process, which allows you to distribute the load over a large area from the back side. For working with wood, petal models are used. At the time of installation, the rod is opened and forms petal folds, which in turn give a reverse stop and fixation of the material. As a rule, these are aluminum rivets that can cope with lightweight panels. Interesting and multi-clamp products, designed to connect materials of different thicknesses. The formed node in this case is universal, so it is often used where there is no clear idea of the dimensions of the blanks. The most technological option is offered by the developers of cassette models. In this design, the locking thrust elements can be represented by dozens of levels. At that, only one rod will act as a bearing base.

Classification by material

Most rivets are made of metal. In particular, aluminum, steel, brass and copper are used. Almost all models of this type have high requirements in terms of protection against corrosion. Aluminum and copper rivets are also characterized by ductility and a small mass. Steel fasteners are often used in structures where it is necessary to provide sufficient strength.

The use of plastic rivets is also common. Basically, they are made of polyamide, which is also able to provide strong connections. Of course, in the index of strength, this option will lose metal. But if rivets galvanic stainless in the long term are not able to guarantee a consistently high protection against moisture, then the plastic initially does not enter into destructive reactions with such contacts. In addition, polyamide does not conduct electric current and interacts optimally with materials made of composites and fiberglass. Today, technologists develop methods for hot soldering of plastic rivets and fixed composite materials, which creates a monolithic structure.

Exhaust and thread rivets

The presence of threads rivets the rivets with other hardware, but in this case a two-way fixing method is implemented. That is, the body of the element is inserted into the prepared hole, after which, on the other hand, the second part of the sleeve is inserted by twisting. This method has its advantages in the form of reliability and ease of implementation, but it can not always be implemented. Therefore, exhaust models are more often used. If the threaded rivets require a twisting of the auxiliary element to ensure a rigid fixation, the exhaust principle assumes deformation of the structure at the end to create an abutment. This may be the above-mentioned spacer principle, and a thickening of the tubular structure, as well as other ways of deforming the rivet tip to secure it.

Installation technique

The operation is performed in several stages. First of all, a hole is created by the drill, along the line of which the insertion of the part will be made. Virtually all types of rivets should be installed in niches, whose diameter is 10-15% higher than the thickness of the rod used. The density of occurrence in this case does not matter. In the prepared hole, the fastener is integrated so that its cap is located on the underside of the work surface.

At this stage, the approaches to installation may differ. Threaded models can be fixed with their own hands, without using a special tool. However, rivets of steel explosive type or spacer hardware are deformed only with the help of special apparatuses. Rasklepka produced by electric drummers or a gun hammer, it depends on the type of fastener.

Where is the rivet applied?

Mostly, these fasteners are used in construction and repair work. Massive constructions with this technology can not be connected, but finishing decorative materials in the form of panels, sheets and plates are often fastened in this way. The manufacturability and accuracy of the fixing allow the use of such hardware in production. For example, aluminum rivets reliably connect wood chipboards. The same steel elements are used on machine-building conveyors when installing metal sheets and parts.

Conclusion

The double-sided clamping method has many advantages over other fasteners. But he also has his shortcomings. The fact is that most of the fixators of this type are not designed for dismantling. For example, explosive types of rivets can be called disposable - in the sense that they can be installed only in one place without the possibility of reinstallation. This fact is important not so much economically, as technically - as a nuance of permanent equipment with the target hardware. Remove the rivet will be possible only by deforming the joined products, but even in this case, the further device of riveting the seized metalware will be impossible.