Research on influence of bolted connections and riveting on tensile failure behavior of composite structures

Riveting method is simple, lightweight and cost-effective, and can thus possibly be adopted to reduce the weight of the composite structure compared to the bolted joints. To that end, this paper comprehensively assessed the practice of "replacing bolts with rivets" in composite structures. The quasi-static tensile-shear properties, damage response and failure process of single-lap composite specimens with pure riveting, riveting with washer and high-locking bolt were compared. The results show that the washer-riveted composite specimens have an ultimate strength of 16.1% higher than that of the high-lock bolted cases. The unit mass bearing capacity of the washer-riveted composite specimens is 97.8 % of that of the high-lock bolted composite specimens, while the unit mass energy absorption capacity is 24.2% higher than that of the high-lock bolted cases. Therefore, the practice of "replacing bolts with rivets"is feasible in terms of the ultimate quasi-static tensile shear strength, unit mass bearing capacity and unit mass energy absorption capacity.