PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

AMT 1205
(AIRCRAFT MATERIALS CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR I)

Learning Module 1
STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Aircraft Rivets

● Sheets of metal must be fastened together to form the aircraft structure, and this is usually done with solid
aluminum alloy rivets.
● A rivet is a metal pin with a formed head on one end when the rivet is manufactured. The shank of the rivet is
inserted into a drilled hole, and its shank is then upset (deformed) by a hand or pneumatic tool.
● In addition to their use for joining aircraft skin sections, rivets are also used for joining spar sections, for holding
rib sections in place, for securing fittings to various parts of the aircraft, and for fastening innumerable bracing
members and other parts together.
● The rivet creates a bond that is at least as strong as the material being joined.
● Two of the major types of rivets used in aircraft are the common solid shank type, which must be driven using a
bucking bar, and the special (blind) rivets, which may be installed where it is impossible to use a bucking bar.
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Standards and Specifications

AMS Aeronautical Material Specifications • Most items of aircraft hardware are identified by their
AN Air Force-Navy specification number or trade name.
AND Air Force-Navy Design • Threaded fasteners and rivets are usually identified by AN
AS Aeronautical Standard (Air Force-Navy), NAS (National Aerospace Standard), or
MS (Military Standard) numbers.
ASA American Standards Association
ASTM American Society for Testing Materials
MS Military Standard
NAF Naval Aircraft Factory
NAS National Aerospace Standard
SAE Society of Automotive Engineers
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Solid Shank Rivets

● Solid shank rivets are generally used in repair work. They are identified by the kind of material of which they
are made, their head type, size of shank, and their temper condition.
● The designation of the solid shank rivet head type, such as universal head, roundhead, flathead, countersunk
head, and brazier head, depends on the cross-sectional shape of the head.
● The temper designation and strength are indicated by special markings on the head of the rivet.
● The material used for the majority of aircraft solid shank rivets is aluminum alloy.
● The strength and temper conditions of aluminum alloy rivets are identified by digits and letters similar to those
adopted for the identification of strength and temper conditions of aluminum and aluminum alloy stock.
● There are three ways to identify a rivet: head types, code numbering and head marking.
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Types of Rivet Heads

Countersunk Head Rivet (AN426 OR MS20426)

Often referred to as flush rivets, are used where streamlining is important. On combat aircraft practically all external
surfaces are flush riveted. Countersunk head rivets are obtainable with heads having an inclined angle of 78° and 100°.
The 100° angle rivet is the most commonly used type.

Round Head Rivet (AN430)

Used on internal structures where strength is the major factor and streamlining is not important.

Flat Head Rivet (AN442)

It has a head which is flattened on both top and bottom. The rivet is normally used for internal structure where it does
not affect the drag of the aircraft.
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Brazier Head Rivet (AN455)

Offers only slight resistance to the airflow and are used frequently on external surfaces, especially on non-
combat type aircraft. It is similar in appearance to the universal head rivet, but the head has a greater diameter and in
thinner near the edge.

Universal Head Rivet (AN470 or MS20470)

It is used throughout the interior aircraft structure where special rivet are not required and in the interior surface
where skin friction is not critical. The head of the universal rivet is about twice the diameter of the shank and is slightly
flatted on the top.
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Figure 1
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Rivet Diameter and Length

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Rivet Materials

1100 Aluminum (A)

This is commercially pure aluminum, and a rivet made of this material is too soft and does not have the strength
required for structural applications on aircraft. These rivets are designated by the letter A, and there is no identifying mark on
their head. A−type rivets are used only in non−structural parts of an aircraft such as fairings and furnishings inside the cabin.

2117 Aluminum Alloy (AD)

There are more rivets of 2117 aluminum than any other alloy, and these rivets have sufficient strength for
structural use. Since they do not need to be heat− treated (as do some of the other types of structural rivets) they can be
driven in the condition they are received from the supplier. AD rivets are identified by a small dimple in the center of their
head.
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

2017 Aluminum Alloy (D)

D−rivets are identified by a raised dot in the center of their head. They are the most often used rivet in Boeing
airplanes. D−rivets are available as standard rivets and as shear head rivets. Shear head rivets have smaller heads than
ordinary 100−degree countersink rivets. They are generally used to attach the fuselage skin to the stringers.

2024 Aluminum Alloy (DD)

DD−rivets are made of heat−treated aluminum alloy and they are so called icebox rivets.
They are identified by two raised dashes on their heads. They are placed in cold storage (−100) F or lower)
immediately after the heat-treating operation to prevent them from becoming too hard to drive. This type of rivet is used
where high strength is required. Icebox rivets must be completely driven within 15 minutes after removal from the freezer or
dry ice; they are not to be returned to cold storage once they have been removed.
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

5056 Aluminum Alloy (B)

Many aircraft parts are made of magnesium, and to avoid a dissimilar metal contact that could lead to corrosion,
magnesium structure is riveted with 5056 rivets which contain about five percent magnesium as an alloying agent.
These rivets are identified by a raised cross on their head. Shear head rivets are also available.

Corrosion−Resistant Steel (F)

Rivets of this material are used for fastening corrosion−resistant steel sheets for such applications as
fire−walls and exhaust shrouds. They do not have any marking on their head.
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Monel (M) (Nickel Alloy)

Monel rivets are identified with two recessed dimples or a raised r in their head and are used in some instances in
place of corrosion-resistant steel rivets, where their somewhat lower shear strength is not detrimental.

Titanium (T)
Titanium rivets are identified by a raised V or T on their head and are used for fastening Steel Alloy and Titanium
Alloy.
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Rivet Head Identification Markings

PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Rivet Number Coding

AN420 series represent the countersunk rivets AN450 series represent the brazier head rivet
420 - 90° head, 425 - 78° head, 426 - 100° head and 427 - 455 – brazier head aluminum or aluminum alloy
100° head other material 456 – brazier head and other material

AN430 series for round head aluminum or aluminum alloy AN470 series represent for universal head rivet
435 series for round head other material

AN440 series represent the flat head rivet

441 – flat head other material
442 – flat head aluminum or aluminum alloy
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)
PHILIPPINE STATE COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS
Activity
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Aircraft Maintenance Technology Department
Learning Module 1 (Midterm): STRUCTURAL FASTENERS (PART 1)

Activity Midterm M1

1. Reading rivet part number. (You have 30 minutes to complete this task.)
AN470 AD 4-4 MS435 B 6-12

MS20 470 AD 5-12 MS441 M 4-4

NAS 420 AD 5-12 MS442 F 5-12

AN426 D 4-4 NAS455 T 3-4

AN425 DD 3-4

AN427 AD 8-8