Riveted assembly modelling: Study and numerical characterisation of a riveting process

In the field of structural stress analysis and especially in transitory dynamics (crash and impact simulations), study/design accuracy requires increasingly predictive models. A compromise between cost and precision entails modelling and simplification of all the link elements. Riveting is a particularly sensitive case. The characteristics needed to ensure effective modelling are indeed difficult to measure. This paper presents adjustment of a numerical model simulating a riveted link using a number of different approaches. The results analysis considerably improve knowledge about the riveting process and behaviour of riveted links. This study will pave the way for resistance tests to be conducted in order to numerically characterise riveted links under load. The aim is to develop an approach that reduces the model size and calculation time without adversely affecting the validity of the simulation results, and to show the effect of strains and residual stresses on the link in post-riveting.