KEVOS® MAKEOS · Fasteners
Riveted Joint Design (Balanced Pitch and Rivet Count)
What rivet pitch balances plate and rivet strength, how efficient is the joint, and how many rivets carry the load?
Design of a riveted lap or butt joint: strength of the rivets per pitch in shear and crushing, the balanced pitch at which plate tearing equals the rivet strength, joint efficiency at that pitch (as the riveted joint tool), the number of pitches along the joint length and the joint capacity against the load, with the minimum pitch of three diameters.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Plate thickness | mm | Thickness of the (thinner) plate. |
| Rivet hole diameter | mm | Diameter of the rivet hole (the driven rivet fills it). |
| Rivet rows | Number of rivet rows within one pitch. | |
| Shear planes per rivet | choice | Shear planes each rivet carries. |
| Allowable tensile stress of the plate | MPa | Allowable tensile stress of the plate. |
| Allowable rivet shear stress | MPa | Allowable shear stress of the rivets. |
| Allowable crushing (bearing) stress | MPa | Allowable bearing stress between rivet and plate. |
| Joint length | mm | Length of the joint across the load. |
| Load on the joint | kN | Total load the joint must carry. |
Method and formulas
- Per pitch: rivet shear = rows × planes × π d² ÷ 4 × τ; crushing = rows × d t σ_c; rivet value R = the smaller.
- Balanced pitch: (p − d) t σ_t = R, so p = d + R ÷ (t σ_t); not less than 3d.
- Efficiency = R ÷ (p t σ_t) (as the riveted joint tool); pitches = ⌊L ÷ p⌋; capacity = pitches × weakest per pitch.
- Example: 2 rows of 17 mm rivets in 10 mm plate balance at a 51 mm pitch, 59.341% efficient.
Limitations
- Static design by allowable stresses; fatigue and slip need separate checks.
- Edge distances and gauges must follow the applicable code.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Lay out a riveted lap or butt joint
- Choose rows and rivet size for a load
- Check an old riveted structure
Who it is for
- Structural engineers
- Fabrication supervisors
- Maintenance engineers
What you get
- Rivet strength per pitch
- Balanced pitch and efficiency
- Joint capacity against the load
Interpreting the result
- More rows raise the rivet value and allow a wider pitch, increasing efficiency.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1735–1745. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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Open the Riveted Joint Design (Balanced Pitch and Rivet Count) calculator
