Riveting damage behavior and mechanical performance assessments of CFRP/CFRP single-lap gasket-riveted joints

Abstract

Riveting is one of dominant joining methods in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) structures, however, riveting is prone to cause CFRP local damage. In this study, a riveting method with a gasket was developed for CFRP/CFRP joints. Riveting damage behaviors were assessed, and the parametric study of the rivet rod length was also carried out. Moreover, both tensile shear and pull-off performances were assessed under quasi-static loading, including the discussion of failure modes. Results demonstrated that the riveting damage mainly occurred in CFRP plies near the rivet deformed head due to the excessive deformation of the rivet tail along both rivet radial direction and rivet axial direction. The over long rivet rob caused a askew deformation of the rivet tail resulting in the most serious CFRP damage. Joining the CFRP/CFRP structures by using an appropriate gasket can obviously reduce the riveting damage and enhance the joining strength of the composite specimen. This paper provided a useful joining method for aircraft composite structures.