Riveted Joint
Compute rivet shear capacity, plate bearing pressure, plate tear-out strength and minimum pitch for riveted joint design.
Inputs
Formula
Fs = n·(πd²/4)·τ; Fb = n·d·t·σb; Ft = (p−d)·t·σt; pmin = 3d
Fundamentals
Riveting joins plates permanently with rivets — a non-detachable joint common in steel structures and aircraft skins.
Rivet diameter $d$ usually matches plate thickness $t$ ($d\approx2t$); joint strength comes from rivet shear and hole bearing, balanced so neither fails first.
History
Riveting was the main permanent join before the Industrial Revolution, widely used in 19th-c. bridges and ships, later replaced by welding from the 1920s.
Engineering applications
Still seen in aircraft skin, boilers and the assessment or repair of existing riveted structures.
Glossary
| Rivet dia $d$ | Shank diameter, chosen from plate thickness. |
| Plate thick $t$ | Single-layer thickness, sets rivet size. |
| Bearing stress | Local compression of rivet by the hole wall. |
How to use
- Fill in Rivet dia. d, Plate thick. t, Rivet shear [τ], Plate bearing [σb], Plate tension [σt], Rivet count n in the Inputs section (watch the unit on each field).
- Click Calculate; the tool evaluates the formula shown above.
- Read Rivet shear Fs, Bearing Fb, Tear-out Ft, Min pitch pmin in the results area.
Formula notesRivet dia d ≈ ∛(P·t / (c·σ)); P = load, t = plate thickness, σ = allowable rivet stress.
Formula · Worked Example · Knowledge
Formula
Riveted joint: rivet shear $F_s=n(\pi d^2/4)\tau$, bearing $F_b=n d t\sigma_b$, tear-out $F_t=(p-d)t\sigma_t$, min pitch $p_{min}=3d$.
Worked Example
d=10, t=8, τ=240, σb=400, σt=300, n=4, p=30 → Fs=75.4 kN, Fb=76.8 kN, Ft=52.8 kN.
Key Points
- Joint strength is the smallest of the three modes.
- Too-small pitch tears the plate; too-large lowers efficiency.
- Use multiple rows or larger rivets for high load.
Parameters
Inputs
| Parameter | Symbol | Unit | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivet dia. d (mm) | d | mm | 10 |
| Plate thick. t (mm) | t | mm | 8 |
| Rivet shear [τ] (MPa) | tau | MPa | 240 |
| Plate bearing [σb] (MPa) | sigb | MPa | 400 |
| Plate tension [σt] (MPa) | sigt | MPa | 300 |
| Rivet count n | n | 4 | |
| Pitch p (mm) | p | mm | 30 |
Outputs
| Result | Symbol | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Rivet shear Fs | Fs | N |
| Bearing Fb | Fb | N |
| Tear-out Ft | Ft | N |
| Min pitch pmin | pmin | mm |
Applications
- Common engineering use cases
FAQ
What formula does this tool use?
This tool computes per ISO / AGMA / ASME standard formulas: Fs = n·(πd²/4)·τ; Fb = n·d·t·σb; Ft = (p−d)·t·σt; pmin = 3d
How accurate are the results?
Results match input precision, based on SI units and common engineering approximations; for critical duty re-check with a safety factor.
Where is it used?
Common engineering use cases