Effect of Hole Diameter on the Fatigue Life and Failure Mechanism of Riveted Joints With Different Squeeze Forces

ABSTRACT Riveting is a reliable joining process that is widely used in aircraft assembly, where axial loads can be transferred from one sheet to another through the load transfer action of rivets. In this article, the effects of hole diameter and squeeze force on the fatigue behavior of riveted joints were systematically researched. The results demonstrated that the hole diameter and squeeze force had great effects on the interference fit size and the interface contact state between the rivet and the hole, thereby affecting the fatigue properties. The fatigue life shortens as the initial hole diameter increases. The greater the squeeze force, the higher the fatigue life. With the increase of the initial hole diameter, the decreased degree of fatigue life is larger with the lower squeeze force. In addition, the fretting wear behavior was generated during the fatigue loading process. Two failure modes of outer sheet fracture and mixed fracture occurred in riveted joints.