Dynamic mechanical test of aeronautic rivets

Numerical simulation is playing an important role in the research of bird strikes, the accuracy of which depends to a large extent on the dynamic mechanical properties of rivets. Despite the importance of the dynamic mechanical properties of rivets, only limited amounts of published data are available on this issue. In this paper the shear and tension mechanical properties of aluminum alloy rivets under different loading velocities are determined. To explore the dynamic shear and tension mechanical properties of rivets, shear and uniaxial tension tests are carried out by using the split Hopkinson tension bar technique. An experimental setup for testing dynamic properties of rivets is designed based on the split Hopkinson tension bar system, and dynamic shear and tension tests of seven different types of aeronautic rivets are carried out using this system. Quasi-static shear and tension tests under two strain rates are carried out by using a universal electronic testing machine, and then the results are compared with those of the dynamic tests. Further discussions reveal the effect of loading velocity, loading modes, rivet radius and rivet modes on the mechanical properties of rivets. To analyze the failure modes, a detailed observation of fracture surfaces is performed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of this study can provide some guidance for the application of aerospace aluminum alloy rivets in engineering, especially with respect to impact.