Connections

Rivets
 Rivets
Rivets are being used in the modern system but their
usage is limited.
In the factory the rivets are heated and when they are
cherry red they are driven in the elements.
Once they have been driven, they shrink in size and length
thus probably leaving some space in the hole.
In case of roof sheeting, in the field they are driven with the
help of gun.
Cold driven rivets are generally used in the field and are
in or smaller and they fit in the hole better than the hot
driven rivets.
If a rivet is reheated several times or heated to very high
temperatures it will loose strength.
 Rivets
Available sizes of rivets are to 1 in with an increment
of 1/8 in.
Rivet heads are usually rounded in shape hence called
button heads.
There are other shapes like counter sunk and chipped
flushed and another type is Flattened head (this is
obsolete).
ASTM Specification A502, Grade I: These have 0.8 %
carbon content and have higher ductility.
ASTM Specification A502, Grade II: They have higher
strength than Grade I rivets. They have more carbon
content and are harder. Less number are required in a
connection thus smaller gusset plate.
ASTM Specification A502, Grade III: This is corrosion
resistant.
 Types of Joints
Lap Joint. Two members are simply overlapped and
connected together. The forces in the member tend to
shear the rivet on the plane between the members. These
rivets are said to be single shear and bearing. There is a
degree of eccentricity of load as both the elements are not
in line. This type of connection is used in small or minor
nature connections.
 Types of Joints
Butt Joint: It is formed when three members are connected
The rivets tend to shear at two points simultaneously.

The rivets are said to be in double shear and bearing.

The members are so arranged that the total shearing
force P is split into two parts. Thus from shear point of
view, shear capacity is double as compare to lap joint.
More symmetrical loading condition is provided and
thus reduction in the bending or twisting of rivet.
Eccentricity is reduced.
 Types of Joints
Double plane connection: The rivets are subjected to
single shear and bearing but bending moment is
prevented. It is also known as hanger connection

P/2
P
P/2

Miscellaneous: There could be any combination depending

upon the geometry of the elements.
 Variation in Stresses
There will be variation in stresses calculated and the actual
stresses in the elements, this will be due to following
reasons:
Friction between the members
Bending of rivets
Stress concentration around the rivet hole
Deformation of the connected member
 Important Terms
Gage

Pitch Pitch
Pitch is the center to center distance between the rivets in
the direction parallel to the axis of member
Gage is the center to center distance between the rivet line
in the direction perpendicular to the axis of member
The edge distance is the distance from the center of the
rivet to the adjacent edge of a member.
The distance between rivets or rivet distance is the
shortest distance between rivets on different rivet lines.
 Preferred minimum pitch distance is three nominal
diameters of rivet used.
The edge distance is preferably 1.5 to 2.0 times the rivet
diameter. It varies for sheared edges and rolled shapes.
Maximum is 12 times the plate thickness but not to exceed
6 in.
Remember, rivets or bolts should not be placed very close
to web.
Shear Capacity = No of rivets x Area of rivets x allowable
shear stress x no of shearing surfaces
Bearing capacity = No of rivets x Dia of rivets x thickness
thicker plate x Allowable stress of
plate
 Example No 1
Data
Two plate in thick are required to be connected using
in rivets.
Rivets are A502 Grade I
Plates are A36
Width of plates = 10 in
No of rivets = 4
Requirement is to find the allowable force P
 Example No 1
Figure
 Example No 1
Solution
P1 = 0.6 Fy Ag for plate
Ag = x 10 = 5 in2
P1 = 0.6 x 36 x 5 = 108 kips
Once we consider the rivets then the net area will
reduce
Net Area = Plate width x Thickness (no of rivets * (dia
of rivet + additional size) * Thickness of plate)
An = 5 2 ( 3/4 + 1/8 ) x
= 4.125 in2
P1 = 0.5 x Fu x An
= 0.5 x 58 x 4.125
= 119.63 kips
But Lesser of the two i.e. 108 kips is allowed.
 Example No 1
Connection
Shear Capacity of rivets
= No of rivets x Area of rivets x fv
= 4 x ()2 x /4 x 17.5 (Table J 3.3)
= 30.925 kips
Bearing capacity of rivets
= no of rivets x dia of rivet x thickness of plate x Fv
But Fp = 1.5 x Fu
So = 4 x x x 1.5 x 58
= 130.5 kips
But Lesser of the two i.e. 30.925 kips is allowed.
 Example No 2
Data
Two plate in thick and one plate 1 in thick are required
to be connected using 7/8 in dia grade I rivets.
Rivets are A502 Grade I
Plates are A36
Requirement is to find the number of rivets
 Example No 2
Figure
7/8 in dia rivets
in
57 kips
57 kips 114 kips
1 in
in
 Example No 2
Connection
Shear Capacity of rivets
= No of rivets x Area of rivets x fv x no of shear surface
Assume or calculate for one rivet
= 1 x (7/8)2 x /4 x 17.5 x 2 = 21.046 kips
Bearing capacity of rivets
= no of rivets x dia of rivet x thickness of plate x Fv
But Fp = 1.5 x Fu
So = 1 x 7/8 x 1 x 1.5 x 58 = 76.125 kips
But Lesser of the two i.e. 21.046 kips governs.
No of rivets = 114 / 21.046 = 5.416 Use 6 Rivets
 Example No 3
Data
Three plates of 7/8 x 16 and two plates 1 x 16 are
required to be connected using 7/8 in dia grade II rivets.
Width of plate is 20 inches.
Rivets are A502 Grade II
Plates are A36
System should be able to transfer 475 kips of force
Requirement is to find the number of rivets and capacity of
plates.
It is assumed that all plates carry equal share of load
 Example No 3
Figure
7/8 in dia rivets
7/8 x 16
P/3 k
P/3 k P/2 kips
P/3 k P/2 kips
1 x 16
7/8 x 16
 Example No 3
Connection
Shear Capacity of rivets
= No of rivets x Area of rivets x fv x no of shear surface
Assume or calculate for one rivet
= 1 x (7/8)2 x /4 x 22 x 4 = 52.916 kips
Bearing capacity of rivets
= no of rivets x dia of rivet x thickness of plate x Fv
But Fp = 1.5 x Fu
So = 1 x 7/8 x 2.5 x 1.5 x 58 = 190.313 kips
But Lesser of the two i.e. 52.916 kips governs.
No of rivets = P / Shear capacity = 475 / 52.916 = 8.92
therefore Use 9 Rivets
 Example No 3
Capacity of plate
In tension element as per yielding criteria
T = 0.6 Fy Ag
= 0.6 x 36 x 1.25 x 16 x 2 = 864 kips
In tension element as per fracture criteria
T = 0.5 Fu Ae
An = 2 x ( 20 3 (7/8 + 1/8) x 1.25)
= 32.5 in2
P = 0.5 x 58 x 32.5 = 942.5 kips

So the critical load is 864 kips.

 Example No 4
Data
Three plates (as shown) in thick are required to be
connected using 7/8 in dia grade I rivets.
Rivets are A502 Grade I
Plates are A36
System should be able to support 120 kips of tension
Requirement is to find the number of rivets.
 Example No 4
Figure

120 k 120 kips

Thick plates
 Example No 4
Connection
Shear Capacity of rivets
= No of rivets x Area of rivets x fv x no of shear surface
Assume or calculate for one rivet
= 1 x (7/8)2 x /4 x 17.5 x 2 = 21.046 kips
Bearing capacity of rivets
= no of rivets x dia of rivet x thickness of plate x Fv
But Fp = 1.5 x Fu
So = 1 x 7/8 x x 1.5 x 58 = 38.06 kips
But Lesser of the two i.e. 21.046 kips governs.
No of rivets = P / Shear capacity = 120 / 21.046 = 5.7
therefore Use 6 Rivets
 Example No 5
Figure 75 kips
3 in

2.5

15 4 x 4 x

3
1.5

7/8 Dia A502 Grade I rivets

 Example No 5
Assume N.A. is 3 from the bottom
Taking moment about T and C
8 x 3 x 3/2 = 2 x /4 x ()2 x (1.5 + 4.5 + 7.5 + 10.5 + 13.5)
36 is not equal to 45
Assume N.A. is 3.2 from the bottom
Taking moment about T and C
8 x 3.2 x 3.2/2 = 2 x /4 x ()2 x (1.3 + 4.3 + 7.3 + 10.3 + 13.3)
40.96 is not equal to 43.87
Assume N.A. is 3.3 from the bottom
Taking moment about T and C
8 x 3.3 x 3.3/2 = 2 x /4 x ()2 x (1.2 + 4.2 + 7.2 + 10.2 + 13.2)
43.56 is approximately equal to 43.29
Therefore N.A. = 3.3 from bottom
 Example No 5
Shearing Stress

fv = 10.4 ksi < 17.5 ksi

Tensile stress ft

And
 Example No 5
Ix = (8 x 3.33 / 12 ) + (8 x 3.3) x (3.3/2)2 + Ix + 2 x /4 x ()2 x
(1.2 + 4.2 + 7.2 + 10.2 + 13.2)
Ix = 516 in4
So ft = (75 x 3) x (13.2) / 516
ft = 5.75 ksi
Allowable ft for A 502 grade I rivets is
ft = 30 1.3 fv 23
= 30 1.3 x 10.4
= 16.48 23 and > 5.75 ksi so
Connection is OK
 Assignment # 4
Q-1 170 kips
5.5 in
10 in

4.5

21 2 Ls of 5 x 5 x

3
1.5

14 x 3/4 Dia A502 Grade II rivets

 Assignment # 4
Q-2

? kips
60 k

?k

8 x 3/4
4 rivets

Slope as shown
A502 Grade I rivets
Requirement: check adequacy of connection
Thanks