Rotation friction pressing riveting of AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet

•Rotation friction pressing riveting (RFPR) method for Mg alloy sheets was proposed.•Effects of RFPR operating parameters were investigated.•RFPR of AZ31Mg alloy provides joints with superior strength and fatigue property.•A numerical analysis of RFPR process was performed.

A kind of joining method for magnesium alloys, rotation friction pressing riveting (RFPR), is proposed in this paper. In RFPR operation, a rivet with a plug rotating at high speed is brought to contact with the riveted sheets, generating frictional heat between the rivet and riveted sheets, which softens the sheet materials and enables the rivet to be drilled into the sheets under reduced force. When fully inserted, the rivet is stopped rotating, and the plug is immediately pressed into the shank of the rivet by a punch. The expansive deformation of the rivet shank occurs under the action of the plug, thereby forming a mechanical interlock between the rivet and the sheets to fasten the sheets together. The studies show that RFPR of AZ31 magnesium alloy sheet can be carried out at ambient temperature, and provides the joints with superior shear strength and fatigue property when compared with self-piercing riveting (SPR). The effects of the operating parameters of RFPR process on the quality of the joints were investigated in the study. The results shows that while the rivet rotation speed little affects the shear strength of RFPR joints, the punch pressure has a significant influence on the mechanical properties of the RFPR joints. A numerical analysis was also performed to understand the effect of the punch pressure on the interlock between the rivet and the sheets, and the stress and strain distribution inside the sheet materials around the rivet. The results show that the interlock increased with the punch pressure and there is residual compressive stress inside the sheet materials, which seems to explain the good fatigue property of RFPR joints observed.