The Influence of Riveting Process on Sheets Fatigue Life – the Stress State Analysis

The paper deals with estimation of a stress concentration factor in the hole area during tensile loading. The load carrying capacity and fatigue performance of sheet samples (made of 2024 aluminium alloy) with open and riveted holes are compared. Tests confirm the insignificant influence of riveting on ultimate strength, however, it strongly affects fatigue life. The material cold working around the hole causes a decrease in maximum principal stress values as well as stress concentration moves away a few millimetres (about half a rivet radius length) from the hole. During tensile loading the maximum stress values increase slower around the riveted hole than at the open one and consequently in the former case the yield stress is achieved later.