Aerospace Fasteners Part 2

Rivet installation summary

• Drill appropriately sized holes
• Deburr holes
• Secure pieces together with Clecos
• Install rivet, buck with rivet gun or use a rivet squeezer

Tools Needed

• .032” 2024-T6 sheet aluminum to be joined with rivets
• Rivet gun
• Bucking bar
• Drill
• Drill bit and chuck key
• Center punch
• Cleco
• Cleco pliers

• Drilling holes with a #30 drill bit
• Use 1/8” rivets with a #30 (.1285”) drill bit

• Deburr the holes by rotating (by hand) a much larger drill bit in the holes
• This removes any metal shavings caused by drilling

• Position the pieces together and secure using Clecos
• Clecos maintain proper alignment of the pieces while rivets are being installed

• Place the rivet in the hole
• Make sure you are using the correct size, material, and type of rivet

• Align the rivet gun on the rivet head
• Hold the bucking bar on the opposite end of the rivet
• Pull the trigger on the rivet gun to hammer the rivet in place

• Solid rivets can be installed using a rivet squeezer instead of a pneumatic rivet gun
• The squeezer is hand operated
• The squeezer uses various inserts depending on the type and size of rivet being installed

Fastener Testing

• Analyzing a Joint
  • Calculate all the load required for each type of joint failure:
    • Rivet Shear
    • Sheet Tensilel
    • Bearing
    • Sheet Shear
  • Failure will occur in the mode that corresponds with the lowest load carrying capability.

Aerospace Fastener Standardization

• Most aerospace hardware is manufactured per government standards
• The three most common aircraft fastener standards used are:
  • AN = Air Force/Navy
  • NAS = National Aerospace Standards
  • MS = Military Standards

Common Standardized Fasteners

• Bolts
• Nuts
• Washers
• Turnbuckles
• Cotter pins
• Screws
• Rivets
• Plumbing fittings (pipes and tubes)