Tensile-Shear Fatigue Strength of Self-Piercing Rivets Joining Dissimilar Metal Sheets

Abstract : Self-piercing riveting (SPR) process is gaining popularity due to its many advantages. The SPR does not require a pre-drilled hole and has capability to join a wide range of similar or dissimilar materials and combinations of materials. This study investigated the fatigue strength of self-piercing rivet joint with aluminum alloy (Al-5052) and steel (SPCC) sheets. Static and fatigue tests on tensile-shear specimens were conducted. From the static strength aspect, the optimal punching force for the specimen with upper SPCC (U.S) sheet and lower aluminum alloy(L.A) sheets was 34 kN. During static test the specimens fractured in pull-out fracture mod e due to influence of plastic deformation of joining area. There was a relationship between applied load amplitude   and number of cycles ;     and     for U.S-L.A and U.A-L.S specimens, respectively. U.A-L.S fatigue specimens failed due to fretting crack initiation around the rivet neck between upper and lower sheets.