KEVOS® MAKEOS · Fasteners
Riveted Lap Joint Efficiency
How strong is this riveted joint compared with the solid plate, and how will it fail?
Strength of a riveted lap or butt joint per pitch by plate tearing, rivet shearing and crushing, and the joint efficiency compared with the solid plate.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Rivet pitch (along the seam) | mm | Centre distance between rivets in one row. |
| Rivet hole diameter | mm | Diameter of the drilled or punched hole (the driven rivet fills it). |
| Plate thickness | mm | Thickness of the thinner plate. |
| Rivets per pitch (rows) | rivets | Number of rivets in each pitch length (one per row). |
| Shear planes per rivet | choice | Single shear for lap joints; double shear for butt joints with two cover straps. |
| Allowable tensile stress of plate | MPa | Allowable tensile stress of the plate material. |
| Allowable shear stress of rivet | MPa | Allowable shear stress of the rivet material. |
| Allowable crushing stress | MPa | Allowable crushing (bearing) stress. |
Method and formulas
- Tearing between holes: (p − d) t σt.
- Shearing: rows × planes × πd²/4 × τ; crushing: rows × d t σc.
- Efficiency = weakest ÷ (p t σt).
- Example: 16 mm rivets at 50 mm pitch in 10 mm plate give an efficiency of 26.808%, limited by rivet shearing.
Limitations
- Classical strength-of-materials method; modern structural rivet design follows the applicable code.
- Edge distance, plate buckling and fatigue are not checked.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Choose rivet pitch and diameter for sheet and plate joints
- Compare single and double riveting
- Repair or assess existing riveted structures
Who it is for
- Design engineers
- Maintenance fitters
- Quality inspectors
What you get
- Strength per pitch by tearing, shearing and crushing
- Solid plate strength per pitch
- Joint efficiency and failure mode
Interpreting the result
- Raise efficiency by balancing tearing against shearing: adjust pitch, diameter or add a row.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1720–1735. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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