A rivet is a type of fixing used which is also named as Permanent Mechanical Fastener. A rivet is normally a Cylindrical shaft consisting of a head at one end and nothing on the other end. The top of the rivet is known as Head and the end opposite to the rivet is known as Tail. During the time of installation, the tail part is placed in a drilled hole or a gap structure and then hammered to complete the fixture. At the time of this hammering, the rivet expands to about one and a half times the diameter of the original shaft diameter. For instance, fastenings are used in wood boat building in olden days which works on the same principle of rivets. The term Rivets was introduced where they are usually classified with nails and bolts.
Types of Rivets
- Solid/ Round Head Rivets
There are the first introduced type of rivets which are found to be used primarily in the archaeological findings, may be partially related to the Bronze age. These are the oldest rivets of all and also the most reliable rivets when compared to all the types of rivets. Solid Rivets are used in almost all the places where there is a use of rivet. The typical applications of rivets can be pointed as structural parts of an air craft. The materials used for these rivets must also be carefully chosen. The excessively used materials for air craft rivets are Aluminum alloys, Titanium alloys and Nickel based alloys.
- High Strength Structural Steel Rivets
Until now, most of the people may heard of steel connections welded or jointed. High Strength bolts have been completely replaced by latest stainless steel based rivets.
- Semi-Tubular Rivets
The name Semi-Tubular Rivets indicates that half of the entire body is tubed and the other half is rigid and stationary. The top has a head which is slightly bulged as the normal solid rivet but the only change is the bottom which has an opening or small space for the insertion. The main advantage of the hole is that it reduces the effect of pressure on the rivet and also on the body or place where the rivet gets attached. Tubular rivets are almost preferred in any site as when in times of damage, only the tail part gets swelled and the remaining part remains undamaged.
- Blind Rivets
Blind rivets are usually known for their weightless nature and also for its ease of shape choosing. This Rivet is available in different types of sizes and also in different alloys including aluminum which is a big plus for the people. Blind rivets are used primarily for the access to the joint which is available only from one side.
- Oscar Rivets
Oscar rivets have small splits along the shaft which is hollow. This Oscar Shaft normally resembles the Blind shaft except the splits. This reduces the chances of the rivet falling or making apart from the joint. The upgraded version of Oscar Rivet is Olympic Rivet which uses Aluminum mandrel which gets drawn into the rivet head.
- Drive Rivet
A Drive Rivet is also a type of Blind rivet that has a small mandrel piercing from the head. These are mostly used for riveting wooden panels into the plates. They can also be used for many types of materials including plastic, metal and other materials.
- Flush Rivets
Flush Rivets are used mostly for external metal surfaces where it is necessary for the surface to look good and clean. A flush Rivet has an advantage of Counter sink hole.
- Friction Lock Rivets
These rivets are of no much importance but are used in rare cases. These types of rivets resemble the expanding type of bolts when the tension required is present. These vary with 3 standard diameters, 1/8, 5/32 and 3/16 inches.
