Strength of Self Piercing Riveted Connections

Abstract

Self piercing riveted connections are increasingly used in steel framed housing in Australia. It involves the joining of two or more plates by using a rivet to pierce and clinch in a single operation. In order to enhance the use of this efficient connection technology, attempts were made recently to develop a universal rivet type that can be used in most steel house frame assemblies. This required structural testing of the new rivet type in two and three plate assemblies to determine their strengths and the effects of many influential parameters such as steel thickness and grade, order of joining and the number of plates, rivet and die types. More than 150 standard lap shear tests were undertaken for this purpose. This paper presents the results from this experimental study and the results.