Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Stratis
We also use pop rivets for a lot of applications. By a lot, I mean most applications that aren't structural. A couple of pop rivets can, in the correct application, easily replace a heavier bolt.
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You can use rivets without any problems for structural applications; the key to success is to design the structure in a way that both uses many rivets to spread the load out and has the rivet locations in areas where they will primarily see compression or shear loads (tensile loads will pull the rivet out).
If there are expected tensile loads, this too can be overcome by the use of a bracket that rivets in two planes 90 degrees apart so that one is always the shear load joint.
Once you use rivets (especially with a
pneumatic riveter), you'll never want to use bolts again.