Investigation of Load Transmission Throughout a Riveted Lap Joint

Results of comparative load transfer measurements and fatigue tests on riveted lap joints from Alclad sheets of a configuration representative of the aircraft fuselage are presented. Two different rivet squeeze force values were accounted for and in either case riveted specimens with the interfaying Teflon foil between the sheets to minimize friction, in addition to standard riveted joints without such a layer, were considered. The goal of the investigation was to recognize implications of friction between the mating sheets for the fatigue behaviour of riveted lap joints in order to derive riveting process dependent coefficients to be included in a fatigue life prediction model for this type of connections.