Aerospace Fastener Applications
Part 2
An Aerospace
Manufacturing
Perspective
1
Aerospace Rivets
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Primarily used to fasten aerospace skins to the
sub-structure
Concerned mainly with shear and tension loads.
Two types of rivets:
– Solid Rivet
– Blind Rivet
Aerospace Rivets
• Rivets on the skin of a
Boeing 737
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Aerospace Solid Rivets
4
Aerospace Solid Rivets
• Universal solid rivets on the skin of a
Boeing 737
•Note that they are not
flush with the skin
5
Aerospace Solid Rivets
• Countersunk solid rivets on the engine
pylon of a Boeing 737
• Note that these rivets
are flush with the surface
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Aerospace Solid Rivets
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Aerospace Solid Rivets - Identification
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Rivets manufactured in accordance with the AN/MS standards are
identified by a four part code:
1.
AN or MS specification and head type
2.
one or two letters that indicate the material
3.
shank diameter in 1/32nd inch increments
4.
a dash followed by a number that indicates rivet length in 1/16th
inch increments.
Aerospace Solid Rivets - Identification
• Aircraft rivets are made
of many materials, and
come in a wide variety of
shapes and sizes
• How do you select the
right size?
• How do you select the
right material?
•We must know what the
part number tells us…
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Aerospace Solid Rivets - Identification
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Example: rivet identification
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standard universal head solid rivet
Material: 2117-T4 aluminium
1/8 inch diameter
5/16 inch in length
Rivet ID = either AN470AD4-5 or MS20470AD4-5
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Aerospace Solid Rivets - Identification
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Same rivet, different material:1100 aluminium
– AN470A4-5 or MS20470A4-5.
AN470 or MS20470 denote the specification for universal head types
AD is the material code for 2117-T4
– (A=1100, B=5056, C=copper, D=2017, DD=2024, F=stainless
and M=Monel)
4 = 4/32 or 1/8 inch diameter
-5 = 5/16 inch length
Aerospace Solid Rivet Installation
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Rivet installation summary
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–
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–
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Drill appropriately sized holes
Deburr holes
Secure pieces together with Clecos
Install rivet, buck with rivet gun or use a rivet
squeezer
Aerospace Solid Rivet Installation
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• .032” 2024T6 sheet
aluminum to
be joined with
rivets
•Rivet gun
•Bucking bar
•Drill
•Drill bit and
chuck key
•Center punch
•Cleco
•Cleco pliers
Aerospace Solid Rivet Installation
• Drilling holes
with a #30 drill
bit
• Use 1/8”
rivets with a
#30 (.1285”)
drill bit
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Aerospace Solid Rivet Installation
• Deburr the holes
by rotating (by
hand) a much
larger drill bit in the
holes
• This removes any
metal shavings
caused by drilling
15
Aerospace Solid Rivet Installation
• Position the
pieces together
and secure using
Clecos
•Clecos maintain
proper alignment
of the pieces while
rivets are being
installed
16
Aerospace Solid Rivet Installation
• Place the rivet
in the hole
• Make sure you
are using the
correct size,
material, and
type of rivet
17
Aerospace Solid Rivet Installation
• 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
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Aerospace Solid Rivet Installation
19

Solid rivets can be
installed using a rivet
squeezer instead of a
pneumatic rivet gun

The squeezer is hand
operated
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The squeezer uses
various inserts
depending on the type
and size of rivet being
installed
Aerospace Blind Rivets
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Used when you cannot physically access one side of the
work
Blind rivets are hollow, and thus weaker than solid rivets
To retain strength of the joint:
– stronger material, larger diameter rivets, or more are
necessary and of course
20–50% heavier than a solid rivet because of steel stem
Aerospace Blind Rivets
21
Aerospace Rivets – Fuselage Repair
• Exterior of a riveted patch fuselage skin patch
•Note that solid fasteners
are used except in the
middle of the patch
• Why would you use blind
fasteners in this
application?
22
Aerospace Rivets – Fuselage Repair
• Interior of a riveted fuselage skin patch
•Because the stringer
on the interior of the
fuselage prevents the
bucking a solid rivet
requires
• Blind rivets are the
only option when
access is restricted
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Quality Assurance of Aerospace
Fasteners
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Aerospace Fasteners Material Selection
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Aerospace Fasteners Testing
Aerospace Fasteners Material
Selection
Background
 Some factors to be considered before material selection
are:
 The max. and min. operating temperatures
 The corrosiveness of the environment
 Fatigue and impact loading
 Always try to use standard fasteners, such as AN, MS,
MIL, NAS, SAE
25
Aerospace Fasteners Material
Selection
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Alloy Steels
Aluminum
Titanium
Stainless Steel
Superalloys
Aerospace Fasteners Material
Selection
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Aluminum is the predominant material used in the manufacture of
commercial aircraft.
Table 3 lists the typical aluminum alloys used in commercial aircraft.
Basic Aerospace Fasteners
Application

The basic applications (or needs) for
aerospace fasteners are:
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28
Shear
Tension
Fatigue
Fuel tightness
High temperature
Corrosion control
Aerospace Fasteners Testing
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Analyzing a Joint
–
Calculate all the load required for each type of
joint failure:
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29
Rivet Shear
Sheet Tensile
Bearing
Sheet Shear
Failure will occur in the mode that corresponds
with the lowest load carrying capability.
Aerospace Fastener Standardization
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Most aerospace hardware is manufactured
per government standards
The three most common aircraft fastener
standards used are:
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AN = Air Force/Navy
NAS = National Aerospace Standards
MS = Military Standards
Common Standardized
Fasteners
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31
Bolts
Nuts
Washers
Turnbuckles
Cotter pins
Screws
Rivets
Plumbing fittings (pipes and tubes)