Analysis of displacement and stress distributions in riveted joints

Abstract

This paper deals with the displacement and stress analyses in riveted joint. This is a stage of study of the local physical phenomena in riveted joint. The aim of the investigation is to improve the prediction method for the joint failure mode associated with a crack initiation and propagation at a rivet hole. Riveting is the most commonly used method of joining sheet metal components of the aircraft structures. The residual stress and strain state appears in the joint after the riveting process. Furthermore in service condition aircraft structures are subjected to variable fatigue loads. The riveted joints are critical areas of the aircraft structure due to severe stress concentrations, plastic strain and effects such as surface damage (fretting wear) and secondary bending. Therefore the fatigue crack initiation will start at the rivets holes. Fretting fatigue is recognised as a surface damage phenomenon and describes situation where microslip between contacting surfaces appears to give rise to reduction in fatigue life [2].