Experimental and numerical study of the static pull-out of blind rivets from a sandwich roof panel

This article reports on original laboratory and numerical investigations into the static axial pull-out behaviour of blind rivets from a sandwich roof panel. Laboratory testing identified three primary failure mechanisms: core shear, pulling of the blind rivet through the facing, and rivet rupture. Force and displacement measurements were recorded using transducers and digital image correlation. Material tests were also conducted on the facings and the core of the sandwich panel. On the basis of the laboratory tests, a numerical model of the experiment was developed in the Abaqus CAE environment. Very good agreement was achieved between the laboratory and numerical test results.