CHAPTER 3a

Strength Calcula
lculation and Dimensioning
g of Joints
J
1. Introduction

Often small machine compone ponents are joined together to form a larger
rger machine
m part.
Design of joints is as importan
portant as that of machine components because
cause a weak joint
may spoil the utility of a carefull
arefully designed machine part.
The joints may be classifieded into the following two groups:

i. Permanent joints,, and

ii. Temporary or detacha
tachable joints.

The permanent joints are those joints which cannot be disassem assembled without
destroying the connecting comp
components. The examples of permanent joints
ints are soldered,
brazed, welded and riveted
d join
joints.

The temporary or detachablchable joints are those joints which can

n be disassembled
without destroying the connect
nnecting components. The examples of tempor
emporary joints are
screwed, keys, cotters, pins
ns and splined joints.

A) Riveted joints
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this chapter you sshould:

Understand the purposes
rposes of riveting;

Describe the methods ods to be applied for riveting;

Identify materials for
or rive
rivets;

Identify types and charac
characteristics of riveted joints;

Explain failures of riveted joints;

Design riveted joints.
A rivet is a short cylindrical
ical b bar with a head integral to it. The
cylindrical portion of the rivet iis called shank or body and lower
portion of shank is known as ta tail, as shown in Fig.1. The rivets are
used to make permanent fasten
fastening between the plates such as in
structural work, ship building,
ing, bbridges, tanks and boiler shells. The
riveted joints are widely used
sed fofor joining light metals.
Fig.1
2. Methods of Riveting
The function of rivets in a joint is to make a connection that has
strength and tightness. streng
ength is necessary to prevent failure of the
t joint. The

1
tightness is necessary in orde
order to contribute strength and to prevent nt leakage
lea as in a
boiler or in a ship hull.
When two plates are to be e faste
fastened together by a rivet as shown in Fig.2 2 (a)
(a the holes in
plates are punched and reamed
eamed or drilled. Punching is the cheapest method
metho and is used
for relatively thin plates and iin structural work. Since punching injures
njures the material
around the hole, therefore dridrilling is used in most pressure-vessell work.
work In structural
and pressure vessel riveting,
ing, th
the diameter of the rivet hole is usually 1.5 mm
m larger than
the nominal diameter of thee rive
rivet.

(a) Initial position

(b) Final position
tion
Fig. 2.. Me
Methods of riveting

The plates are drilled together ther a and then separated to remove any burrs rrs or chips so as to
have tight flush joint between een th the plates. A cold rivet or a red hot rivet
et is introduced
in into
the plates and the point (i.e. ssecond head) is then formed. When a cold rivet is used,
the process is known as cold old riv
riveting and when a hot rivet is used, the e process
proc is known
as hot riveting. The cold riveting process is used for structural joints while hot riveting is
used to make leak proof joints.
oints.
The riveting may be done by ha hand or by a riveting machine. In hand riveting,
rivetin the original
rivet head is backed up byy a ha hammer or heavy bar and then the die or set, se as shown in
Fig.2(a), is placed against st the end to be headed and the blows are applied by a
hammer. This causes the shan shank to expand thus filling the hole and the tail ta is converted
into a point as shown in Fig. Fig.2 (b). As the rivet cools, it tends to contrac
ontract. The lateral
contraction will be slight, but th there will be a longitudinal tension introduce
roduced in the rivet
which holds the plates firmly ly tog
together.
In machine riveting, the die ie is a part of the hammer which is operated ed by air, hydraulic
or steam pressure.
Notes: i. For steel rivets uptopto 1 12 mm diameter, the cold riveting process ess may
m be used
while for larger diame
diameter rivets, hot riveting process is used.
ii. In case of long rivets,
ivets, only the tail is heated and not the whole le shank.
sha

2
3. Types of Rivet Heads

According to Indian sstandard

specifications, the rivet hea heads are
classified into the following thre
three types

i. Rivet heads for general pu

purposes
(below 12 mm diameter), acco
according to
IS: 2155 – 1982 (Reaffirmed
ed 19
1996).

Fig Rivet heads

ds for general purposes
(below 12 mm diameter).
diam

ii. Rivet heads for generall purp

purposes
(From 12 mm to 48 mm diame diameter),
according to IS: 1929 – 1982
(Reaffirmed 1996).

Fig. Rivet heads for general

neral purposes
(from 12 mm to 48 mm diameter)
diam

3
iii. Rivet heads for boiler
work (from 12 mm to 48
mm diameter, according
to IS: 1928 – 1961
(Reaffirmed 1996).

Fig. Rivet heads for boiler

work.

4
 4. Material of Rivets
The material of the rivets ets m
must be tough and ductile. They are usually
ually made of steel
(low carbon steel or nickel
ickel ssteel), brass, aluminium or copper, butt when strength and
a fluid tight joint is the main consideration, then the steel rivets are
e used.
used

5. Types of Riveted Joints

Following are the two types of riveted joints, depending upon the e way in which the
plates are connected.
i) Lap joint, and ii) Bu
Butt joint.
i) Lap Joint
A lap joint is that in which
hich one plate overlaps the other and the two plates pla are then
riveted together.
ii) Butt Joint
A butt joint is that in
n whic
which the main plates are kept in alignment nt butting
butt (i.e.
touching) each other er and a cover plate (i.e. strap) is placed either
her on one side or
on both sides of the e main plates. The cover plate is then riveted d together
toge with the
main plates. Butt joints
ints aare of the following two types:
i) Single strap butt jo joint, and ii) Double strap butt joint.
In a single strap butt joint, tthe edges of the main plates butt against inst each
e other and
only one cover plate is pla placed on one side of the main plates s and then riveted
together. In a double strap b butt joint, the edges of the main plates s butt against each
other and two cover plates are placed on both sides of the main in plates
pla and then
riveted together.
In addition to the above, e, foll
following are the types of riveted joints depen
epending upon the
number of rows of the rivets
rivets.
i) Single riveted joint, and ii) Double riveted joint.
A single riveted joint is tha that in which there is a single row of rivets
ts in a lap joint as
shown in Fig.3 (a) and there is a single row of rivets on each side in a butt b joint as
shown in Fig. 5.
A double riveted joint is th that in which there are two rows of rivetsets in a lap joint as
shown Fig. 3(b) and (c) c) and there are two rows of rivets on each side in a butt joint
as shown in Fig.6.

Fig.3

5
Similarly the joints may be tripltriple riveted or quadruple riveted.
Notes: i) When the rivets in the va various rows are opposite to each other, as shown
hown in
Fig.3 (b), then the joint is said
id to bbe chain riveted. On the other hand, if the rivets in the

Fig.4. Triple riveted lap joint

adjacent rows are staggered in suc

such a way every rivet is in the middle of the two rivets
ri of
the opposite row as shown in Fig.
Fig.3 (c), then the joint is said to zig-zag riveted.
ii) Since the plates overlap in lap joints, therefore the force P acting on thee plates
plate are not in the
same straight line but they are
re at a distance equal to the thickness of the plate.
ate. These
Th forces will
form couple which may bendd the jjoint. Hence the lap joints may be used only nly where
wh small loads
are to be transmitted. On thee other hand, the forces P in a butt joint act in the
he same
sam straight line,
therefore will be no couple. le. He
Hence the butt joints are used where heavy avy loads
lo are to be
transmitted.

6. Important Terms Used d in RRiveted Joints

The following terms in connect
nnection with the riveted joints are importantnt from
fro the subject
point of view:
a. Pitch. It is the distancee from the centre of one rivet to the centre tre of the next rivet
measured parallel to the seameam as shown in Fig.3. It is usually denoted d by p.
p
b. Back pitch. It is the e per
perpendicular distance between the centre entre lines of the
successive rows as shown Fig.3. It is usually denoted by Pb .
n in Fi
c. Diagonal pitch. It is the e dis
distance between the centers of the rivets ts in adjacent
a rows
of zig-zag riveted joint as shown in Fig.3. It is usually denoted by Pd .

6
Fig.5. Single riveted double
strap butt joint
Fig.6. Double riveted double strap (equa
qual) butt joints

d. Margin or marginal pitch.

itch. It is the distance between the centers of rivet
riv hole to the
nearest edge of the plate as sh
shown in Fig. 3. It is usually denoted by m.

Fig.7. Double rive

riveted double strap (unequal) butt joint with zig-zag rivetin
veting.

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7. Failures of a Riveted Joint
A riveted joint may fail in the fol
following ways:
a. Tearing of the plate at an edge. A joint may fail due to tearing of the
th plate at an
edge as shown in Fig. 8. This ccan be avoided by keeping the margin,, m = 1.5d, where d
is the diameter of the rivett hole.

Fig.9. Tearing of the plate across the rows

r of rivets.
Fig.8. Tearing of the plate at an edge.

b. Tearing of the plate acrosscross a row of rivets. Due to the tensile stresse
tresses in the main
plates, the main plate or cover plates may tear off across a row of rivets as shown in
Fig.9. In such cases, we consid
consider only one pitch length of the plate, since every rivet is
responsible for that much length of the plate only.
The resistance offered byy the plate against tearing is known as tearing aring resistance or
tearing strength or tearing value of the plate.
Let p = Pitch of the rivets
rivets,
d = Diameter off the rrivet hole,
t = Thickness of the plate, and
σ t = Permissiblee tens
tensile stress for the plate material.
We know that tearing area a per pitch length,
At = (p - d) . t
∴ Tearing resistance or pull re required to tear off the plate per pitch length,
ength,
Pt = At . σ t = (p - d) t . σ t
When the tearing resistance ce (Pt) is greater than or equal to the applied d load (P) per pitch
length, then this type of failure
ilure w
will not occur.

c. Shearing of the rivets.. The plates which are connected by the rivets exert tensile
stress on the rivets, and iff the rrivets are unable to resist the stress, they
hey are
a sheared off
as shown in Fig.10.
It may be noted that the rivets
ivets a are in single shear in a lap joint and in a single
sin cover butt
joint, as shown in Fig.10. But tthe rivets are in double shear in a double uble cover
c butt joint

8
as shown in Fig.11. The resis
resistance offered by a rivet to be sheared ed off is known as
shearing resistance or shearing
earing strength or shearing value of the rivet.

Fig. 10

ing off a rivet in double cover butt joint.

Fig. 11. Shearing

Let d = Diamet
iameter of the rivet hole,
τ = Safe pe
permissible shear stress for the rivet material
terial, and
n = Numbe
umber of rivets per pitch length.
We know that shearing area,

9
Shearing resistance or pullll requ
required to shear off the rivet per pitch length,
gth,

When the shearing resistancetance (Ps) is greater than or equal to the applied
pplied load (P) per
pitch length, then this typee of fa
failure will not occur.
d. Crushing of the plate e or rivets. Sometimes, the rivets do nott actually
actu shear off
under the tensile stress, butt arare crushed as shown in Fig.12. Due to this, the rivet hole
becomes of an oval shape e and hence the joint becomes loose. The e failure
failu of rivets in
such a manner is also known own a as bearing failure. The area which resists
sts this
thi action is the
projected area of the hole or riv
rivet on diametral plane.
The resistance offered byy a rrivet to be crushed is known as crushing shing resistance or
crushing strength or bearinging va
value of the rivet.
Let d = Diam
Diameter of the rivet hole,
t = Thick
Thickness of the plate,
σ c = Safe permissible crushing stress for the rivet
vet or plate
mate
material, and
n = Num
Number of rivets per pitch length under crushing
shing.
We know that crushing area ea pe
per rivet (i.e. projected area per rivet),

Ac = d.t
Total crushing area, = n.d.t
and crushing resistance orr pull required to crush the rivet per pitch length,
ngth,

When the crushing resistance

ance (Pc) is greater than or equal to the applied
pplied load (P) per
pitch length, then this type
e of fa
failure will not occur.
Note: The number of rivets ets un
under shear shall be equal to the number
ber of
o rivets under
crushing.

10
 Fig
Fig.12. Crushing of a rivet.

8. Strength of a riveted joint

The strength of a joint may ay be defined as the maximum force, which ich it can transmit,
without causing it to fail. We h have seen in the previous section that Pt, Ps, and Pc are
the pulls required to tear off the plate, shearing off the rivet and crushing
hing off
o the rivet. A
little consideration will show
ow tha
that if we go on increasing the pull on a riveted
rivet joint, it will
fail when the least of these se thre
three pulls is reached, because a higherr value
valu of the other
pulls will never reach since ce the joint has failed, either by tearing off the plate,
p shearing
off the rivet or crushing offf the rrivet.
If the joint is continuous ass in ccase of boilers, the strength is calculated
ted per
pe pitch length.
But if the joint is small, the
e stren
strength is calculated for the whole length of the plate.

9. Efficiency of a Riveted d Join

Joint
The efficiency of a riveted joint is defined as the ratio of the strength of riveted
rive
joint to the strength of the un-riv
riveted or solid plate.
We have already discussed ed tha
that strength of the riveted joint = Least of Pt, Ps, and Pc

Strength of the un-riveted or so

solid plate per pitch length,

Efficiency of the riveted joint,

Where, p = Pitch of the

he riv
rivets,
t = Thicknesss of th
the plate, and
σ t = Permissible
ble ten
tensile stress of the plate material.

11
10. Calculation of hole
le dia
diameter and pitch

For an ideal joint the rivet

et sh
should be equally strong against shearing
ring and crushing.
Hence, from Eqs. (3.3) andd (3.7
(3.7), making Ps = Pc

….(1)

If rivet is in double shear,

…(2)

…(3)

Also from the equations below

elow

Using Eq. (3) in above equation

uation
p = 2.73 d (in single shear)
p = 1.86 d (in double shear)
r) . . . (4)

12
From equations below

There are several practical

cal co considerations due to which the design ign dimensions
dim are
modified. Most important of thethese is the pressure tightness of the joint,
int, which
w is mainly
achieved by caulking of the plate edges. The caulking becomes easier eas with short
pitches and smaller rivets.. It als
also makes it desirable that margin should
uld be 1.5 d but not
greater. The results in thisis se
section are indicative of calculation procedu
ocedure and by no
means be treated as standard
dard formulae. These results are valid only y for particular
p case
and permissible stresses adopadopted. As a common practice for plate e thickness
thic greater
than 8 mm the diameter off rivet hole is determined by

This is known as Unwin’s formu

formula.
It has been pointed outt in th
the last sections that no attempt was as made
ma to derive
formulae. The expressions
ons fo
for various load carrying capacities s were
wer written by
examining the geometry. There
Therefore, you must see that in each problem
lem the
th geometry is
understood and then the expre
expressions for forces are written. In the examples
exam here we
would see how we can approac
proach to design a riveted joint.

13
EXAMPLES

1) A double riveted lapap joi

joint is made between 15 mm thick plates.
plate The rivet
diameter and pitch are 25 mm and 75 mm respectively. y. If the
t ultimate
stresses are 400 MPa Pa in tension, 20 MPa in shear and nd 640
6 MPa in
crushing, find the minimum
imum force per pitch which will rupture
re the joint.
If the above joint is subjec
ubjected to a load such that the factor
tor of safety is 4,
find out the actual stresses
esses developed in the plates and the rivets.
rivet

m; d = 25mm ; p =75 mm; σ tu = 400 MPa = 400 N/mm2 ;

Solution. Given: t = 15 mm;
τ u = 320 MPa = 320 N/mm2 = 6640 MPa = 640 N/mm2
Minimum force per pitch whic which will rupture the joint
Since the ultimate stresseses are given, therefore we shall find the ultimate
timate values of the
resistances of the joint. Wee kno
know that ultimate tearing resistance of the
he plate
pla per pitch,

Ultimate shearing resistance

ce of the rivets per pitch,

and ultimate crushing resistanc

istance of the rivets per pitch,

From above we see that the he min

minimum force per pitch which will rupture re the joint is
300 000 N or 300 kN. Ans
Ans.
Actual stresses produced ed in tthe plates and rivets
Since the factor of safety is 4, th
therefore safe load per pitch length of the joint
joi

= 300 000/4 = 75 000 N

Let σ ta , τ a , and σ ca be the actu
actual tearing, shearing and crushing stresses
sses produced
p with
a safe load of 75 000 N in tearin
tearing, shearing and crushing.
We know that actual tearing ng res
resistance of the plates (Pta),

Actual shearing resistance

e of th
the rivets (Psa),

14
Actual crushing resistance
e of th
the rivets (Pca),

2) Find the efficiency of the following riveted joints

i. Single riveted lap
p joint of 6 mm plates with 20 mm diameter
meter rivets
having a pitch off 50 m
mm.
ii. Double riveted lapp joint of 6 mm plates with 20mm diameter
meter rivets
having a pitch off 65 m
mm.
Assume,
Permissible tensile stress
ress in plate = 120 MPa
Permissible shearing stress in rivets = 90 MPa
Permissible crushing stress in rivets = 180 MPa

Solution. Given: t = 6 mm ; d = 20 mm σ t = 120 MPa = 120 N/mm2 τ = 90

9 MPa =
2 2
90 N/mm ,180 MPa = 180 0 N/m
N/mm

i. Efficiency of the first joint

oint
Pitch, p = 50 mm B(Given)
First of all, let us find the te tearing resistance of the plate, shearing
aring and crushing
resistances of the rivets.
a. Tearing resistance e of th
the plate
We know that the tearing resista
resistance of the plate per pitch length,

b. Shearing resistance off the rivet

Since the joint is a single rivet
riveted lap joint, therefore the strength off one rivet in single
shear is taken. We know that shshearing resistance of one rivet,

c. Crushing resistance off the rivet

Since the joint is a single rivete

riveted, therefore strength of one rivet is taken.
ken. We know that
crushing resistance of one e rivet
rivet,

15
Strength of the joint
= Least of Pt, Ps and Pc = 21600 N
We know that strength of the un
unriveted or solid plate,

∴ Efficiency of the joint,

2. Efficiency of the second

nd jo
joint
Pitch,, p = 65 mm

a. Tearing resistance of the pplate,

We know that the tearing resista
resistance of the plate per pitch length,

b. Shearing resistance off the rivets

Since the joint is double riveted
iveted lap joint, therefore strength of two rivets
ets in single shear
is taken. We know that shearing
earing resistance of the rivets,

c. Crushing resistance off the rivet

Since the joint is double riveted
iveted, therefore strength of two rivets is taken.
en. We
W know that
crushing resistance of rivets,

∴ Strength of the joint,

=L
Least of Pt, Ps, and Pc = 32 400N

We know that the strength

h of th
the unriveted or solid plate,

∴ Efficiency of the joint,

16
3) Design a double riveted d lap joint for MS plates 9.5 mm thick. Calculate
culate the efficiency
of the joint. The permissible
le stre
stresses are :
ϭt = 90 MPa, τs = 75 MPa, ϭc = 150 MPa
Solution
The joint to be designed iss show
shown schematically in Figure below;

(a) Dia. of Rivet Hole d : It is d

determined by Unwin’s formula, Eq. (3.18)
.18)

(b) Pitch of the Joint, p : In a double riveted joint there are 4 rivets ts in a pitch length.
The rivet diameter will be taken as diameter of the hole as difference ce between
bet them is
small. The rivets can fail in
n shea
shear or due to crushing. We will first determine
ermine the shearing
and crushing strength off a riv rivet and equate the smaller of two to o the plate tearing
strength to determine p.

Shearing strength of one rivet

17
Crushing strength of one rivet

From (a) and (b) it is seen that the rivet is weaker in shear.
We will equate tearing strength
ength of plate with shearing strength of rivets
ts in a pitch length.
There are two rivets in the pitch length.

Riveted Joints The pitch shou

should be such that head forming operation ion is not hindered.
The practice dictates that p ≥ 3 d so that head forming is permitted.
3 d = 55.5 mm, and hence e the vvalue of p obtained in (ii) is acceptable.

(c) The back Pitch pb : Itt must be between 2.5 d to 3.0 d. For chain riveting
rivet the higher
value is preferred for the reason of head forming

(d) Margin, m : m is determi

etermined by equating shearing strength of rivet
rive (smaller of
shearing and crushing strength
rengths of rivet). Remember that there are two rivets
ri per pitch
length :

The minimum acceptable value of m is 1.5 d = 27.5 mm hence

m = 28.
28.3 mm is acceptable.
Thus the design is completed
eted w
with

d = 18.5 mm, p = 65.7 mm, pb = 55.5 mm, m = 28.3 mm

The diameter is standardized,

ized, a
apparently based on drill size. Normally
ly fractions
frac like 18.5
mm may not be accepted.. The rivet diameters are less than hole diameter
meter by 1 mm. Yet

18
the head formation processcess increases rivet diameter. We are not yet
y describing
standard hole and rivet diamete
ameters. We postpone it for the time being.

(e) Efficiency of Joint

Tensile strength of plate withou
ithout holes, per pitch length

Shearing strength of rivetss in a pitch length

Crushing strength of rivetss in a pitch length

The tearing strength of plate

ate wit
with one hole in a pitch length

The shearing strength of margin

Out of all Ps, Pc, Pt and Pms, the lowest is Ps

The design values are

d = 18.5 mm, p = 65.7 mm, pb = 55.5 mm, m = 28.3 mm, η = 71.7%

19
EXERCISES

1. A single riveted lap joint is made in 15 mm thick plates with 20 mm diameter rivets.
Determine the strength of the joint, if the pitch of rivets is 60 mm. Take σt = 120 MPa;
τ = 90 MPa and σc = 160 MPa. [Ans. 28 280 N]

2.Two plates 16mm thick are joined by a double riveted lap joint. The pitch of each row
of rivets is 90 mm. The rivets are 25 mm in diameter. The permissible stresses are as
follows: σt = 140 MPa τ = 110 MPa and σc = 240 MPa
Find the efficiency of the joint. [Ans. 53.5 %]

3. A single riveted double cover butt joint is made in 10 mm thick plates with 20 mm
diameter rivets with a pitch of 60 mm. Calculate the efficiency of the joint, if
σt = 100 MPa; τ = 80 MPa and σc = 160 MPa. [Ans. 53.8%]

4. A double riveted double cover butt joint is made in 12 mm thick plates with 18 mm
diameter rivets. Find the efficiency of the joint for a pitch of 80 mm, if σt = 115 MPa; τ =
80 MPa and σc = 160 MPa. [Ans. 62.6%]

5. A double riveted lap joint with chain riveting is to be made for joining two plates 10
mm thick. The allowable stresses are: σt = 60 MPa τ = 50 MPa and σc = 80 MPa. Find
the rivet diameter, pitch of rivets and distance between rows of rivets. Also find the
efficiency of the joint. [Ans. d =20 mm ; p =73mm ; Pb = 38 mm ; η =71.7%]

REFERENCES

1. Bhandari V.B., Design of machine elements, 2nd ed., 2008.

2. Khurmi R.S. & Gupta J.k., Text book of machine elements, 2005.

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