Quality of self-piercing riveting (SPR) joints from cross-sectional perspective: A review

Self-piercing riveting (SPR) is a method used for joining sheet materials by creating a mechanical interlock between the sheets. SPR is of increasing interest in automobile industries due to its suitability for joining lightweight, high strength and dissimilar materials. The quality of an SPR joint from cross-sectional perspective is primarily characterized by the amount of mechanical interlock known as rivet flaring. Other parameters, such as rivet head height, bottom thickness and effective length of the rivet in the bottom sheet are also considered as quality parameters. However, the many factors that determine the quality of an SPR joint are poorly described in the literature and, as a consequence, the opportunities to develop new product and optimize the process are limited. In this paper, several of the key parameters that affect the quality of an SPR joint are described and some assistive technologies that have the potential of improving the quality of a joint are discussed. This is a zone in the field of SPR joining which has plenty of research opportunities. Innovative progress will be achieved by a combination of techniques, together with industrial trials and laboratory simulations.