Research on the Mechanical Properties of Single-Lap Rivet-Bonded Hybrid Joint Considering the Rivet Forming Process

Background

This paper investigates the mechanical properties and failure behaviours of rivet-bonded hybrid joints composed of aluminium adherends and steel rivets under quasi-static tensile loading.

Objective

The damage law of hybrid joints is studied to provide a reference for the design and manufacture of hybrid joints.

Methods

Tensile tests were conducted on aluminium and steel specimens at various triaxial stress levels. The corresponding finite element model (FEM) was developed to verify the Johnson–Cook damage parameters of the studied metals. The hybrid joint considering the rivet forming process was constructed through FE modelling using the Johnson–Cook failure criterion and Cohesive Zone Model (CZM), which was then validated with the experimental results.

Results

Experimental results of the hybrid joint showed that a typical two-stage failure: 1) the adhesive layer bears the majority of the load during the initial loading stage, and 2) the adhesive layer completely fails after reaching the peak load and the rivet solely bears the load subsequently.

Conclusions

The riveting process did not cause damage to the adhesive layer, which ensured the reliability of the manufacturing techniques of the hybrid joint. And the yielding of rivets may buffer the immediate failure of hybrid joints.