Investigation on clinch riveting process with different material combinations

Clinch riveting is a new joining process originating from clinching. The presence of rivets greatly enhances the shearing load of joints. However, conventional rivet is deformable, which may increase technological intricacy consequently. In this article, clinch riveting with rigid rivets was proposed, and the effects of sheet material combinations on the mechanical properties of joints were researched. Four sheet material combinations, involving two kinds of aluminum alloy (AA5052 and AA1060), were utilized to produce the clinch riveted joints. The joining quality was evaluated in four aspects: tensile load, shearing load, failure mode, and absorbed energy in shearing tests. Tensile and shearing tests were implemented to obtain the static load of joints. Results showed that both sheet materials and the geometrical parameters of joints were key factors determining the mechanical properties of joints. During the joining of different materials, the joint with a high-strength sheet on the top exhibited greater static load and absorbed energy than the joint with a low-strength sheet on the top. Neck fracture, button separation, and mixed failure could be observed in tensile tests. In shearing tests, all joints failed at the neck parts.