Optimized self-piercing riveting processes: A review

Self-piercing riveting (SPR) is a method for joining sheets by forming a mechanical interlock between them. SPR is increasingly adopted in the automotive industry due to its effectiveness in joining lightweight, high-strength, and dissimilar materials. This paper focuses on the riveting of commonly used metals in automotive bodies and explores recent advancements in SPR for new material joining. The challenges of conventional SPR (C-SPR) techniques are analyzed, and several optimized SPR processes are discussed in detail. Finally, methods for evaluating SPR joint quality are examined, including traditional inspection and evaluation methods and non-destructive testing techniques based on artificial intelligence and deep learning.