Strength of Riveted Joints

The factors that govern the strength of a joint are:

Plate specification             This will be of such a material and gauge as to  successfully withstand tensile and bearing loads.

Rivet Specification             This will be selected to withstand shear loads.  In cases where the

specification of the rivet is not given, use a rivet of the same material as the plate, with a diameter

of 2¹/₂ where T is the thickness of the plate.

Rivet Pitch    This is important as too great a pitch will result in insufficient rivets to take the shear loads and too small a pitch will result in lowering the resistance of the plate to tensile loads.

Types of Rivet Spacing

Single Chain            Used chiefly on attachment and lightly stressed joints.

Multiply Chain         Used on watertight joints and in places of high stress where thick gauge plate is used.

Staggered Riveting            Used as an alternative to multiple chain in watertight joints, circular patches etc.