Aircraft Structure Fasteners

To form aircraft structures, sheets must be joined.

of metal, and these are usually made with rivets of
solid aluminum alloy. This section will cover the
solid rivets and special rivets.

Solid Rivets
Head Brand Alloy
When aircraft manufacturers began Plan 1100 A

aircraft constructions made entirely of metal in the years Type drilling

2117T AD
point
30, different manufacturers used different head designs Point in
2017T D
Relieve
of rivet. They were used: Brass head, head of Two lines in
2024T DD
modified latonero, button head, mushroom head relieve

flat head, and chamfered head at 78°. Given that the Relief cross 5056H B

Aircraft construction has been standardized, 4 designs of Three lines in

relieve
7075 T73

rivet heads have partially replaced all the Circle of

7050 T73 E
relieve
others. The rivets exposed to the airflow over the Type of drilling
Big points and Titanium
head is usually universal MS20470, or small
Steel
countersunk head at 100° MS20426. For used rivets Type drilling resistant
F
line to the run-
in the internal structure, generally the round head session
Type of drilling Steel to
MS20430 and the MS20442 flat heads are the most used. Triangle Carbon

Figure 2-19 identification marks of

heads for alloy rivets
solid aluminum.

The material from which the alloy rivet is made

aluminum is indicated by a mark on the head of the
Rivet. Figure 2-19 shows the mark and indicates the metal.
What alloy the rivet is made of.

A basic rule for selecting rivet material

it is that the same material as the metal sheet is used
that they are gathering, but this rule is not followed to the letter
the letter. Most of the structure of an aircraft is
made of 2024 alloy,
But the 2024 rivets must be heat treated and
to be used shortly after being removed from the container of
tempered. For this requirement, the majority of aircraft
are designed to use 2117 alloy rivets that
they can be used just as they are received from the factory.

When a stronger rivet is required, tougher ones are used.

rivets 2017 or 2024. These are called rivets
"icebox", since they must be thermally processed before
to be used to prevent cracking. These rivets
are heated to a specific temperature in an oven and
then they are tempered in water, so that when they are removed
for the first time the water will be gentle so they must be
used immediately, and despite this they will not crack.

But if they are kept at room temperature for more than 10

minutes, this type of rivet hardens enough
so that they crack at the time of installation. For
to prevent this hardening, these rivets must be
stored in a freezer at a temperature close to -
50°F. This will keep them soft enough for use.
for several weeks, however it is still necessary that
they are used between 5 to 10 minutes after being removed from
freezer.

Magnesium is a highly reactive metal.

radioactive and should be taken every
reasonable precaution to prevent the
 contact with other metals. For this reason, the rivets made of the length, in increments of 1/16 of
a 5056 alloy is used to bond sheets of alloy of inch. This identification is
magnesium. These rivets contain approximately 5% of shows in the example of figure 2-
magnesium and create less quantity of problems due to metals 21
dissimilar to any other rivets. These rivets can
to be installed as they are received, that is, it is not necessary
apply some heat treatment.

Dimensions of Rivets

The diameter of a solid rivet is the diameter of its shank.

as shown in Figure 2-20. In the
specifications of the rivet, the
Figure 2-20. Measurement of a solid rivet
aircraft diameter is indicated in increments
of 1/32 of an inch as the number
what follows the first hyphen (-) that precedes the material code
for the rivet.
MS20470AD-4-6
MS Military Specifications
20470 Rivet with head The length of the rivets
universal solids are measured from the
AD Alloy 2117T portion of the head that is
-4 4/32" or 1/8" in diameter adjusts to the surface of the
-6 6/16" or 3/8" long metal sheet up to the
end of its stem. This
Figure 2-21. Meaning of the numbers
length is measured in increments of 1/16 of an inch and is indicated in the rivet specification
specifications of the rivet such as the number that follows
second hyphen (-).

Identification of the Rivet

A solid aluminum alloy rivet is identified by a

number that indicates the shape of its head, alloy, diameter, and the
large. The letters MS and AN identify the specifications under the
which the rivet was manufactured. The number indicates the shape of the

Number of Form of Aleaci Diameter Long

identification head on
MS20426AD-4-4 Chamfered at 100° 2117T 1/8 1/4
MS20470DD-5-8 Universal 2024T 5/32 1/2
MS20430D-6-10 Rounded 2017T 3/16 5/8
MS204442D-4-6 Plan 2017T 1/8 3/8
Rounded Solid rivets made of copper,
MS20430A-3-4 1100 3/36 1/4
steel stainless, and Monel are
Table 1: Examples of aluminum alloy rivet assignment identified in a similar way to the
used in alloy rivets
head, the code that follows this number identifies the alloy, the
aluminum.
the number following the first dash (-) is the diameter in increments
of 1/32 of an inch, and the number that follows the second hyphen (-) is
 Number in a way of Material Head brand
identification head

MS20427 Beveled to Steel Embedded triangle

100º soft
MS20427M Avellanado to Monel Relief triangle
100º
MS20427C Avellana to Copper Without brand
100º
MS20427F Tapered to Steel No brand
Figure 2-24: self-connecting cherry
100 degrees resistant to
corrosion insured by friction
MS20435 Rounded Steel Embedded triangle
soft
MS20435M Rounded Monel Relief triangle
MS20435C Rounded Copper Without brand
MS20435F Rounded resistant to No brand
corrosion

MS20441 Plan Steel Embedded triangle

soft
MS20441M Plane Monel Relief triangle
MS20441C plan Steel A B A
resistant to Unbranded
corrosion
A: vástago / B: mango
Figure 2-23. Identification of solid rivets and different from
aluminum alloys.

Special bras

There are many places on the aircraft where it is not possible

reach both sides of the structure, that is why they must be
special blind rivets installed. In this section there will be
discussed various types of blind rivets and other fasteners
specials that are used instead of solid rivets.

Cherry type rivets secured by friction

Rivet cutters: the pliers
The Townsend division of Textron Corporation manufactures a series
of special cut that resembles
of blind rivets that are extensively used in aircraft
diagonal cutters except that
both civilians and military. Figure 2-24 shows two types of
these jaws are designed of
cherry self-locking rivet head secured by
so that they cut the
friction. The correct length of the rivet is selected and is inserted into
shank of the rivet in a way
through the holes of the metal sheets to be joined.
straight.

A special extractor (figure A) is

Monel: An alloy of nickel, copper, and aluminum or silicon hooks onto the protruding stem and
then it is pulled. The tapered end
the stem is pulled inside the
hollow mango to inflate it with it
that tightly grips both
sheets. Continuing to pull breaks the stem and leaves part of it elongated, ellipsoid y with the
minted within the handle. The shaft must be trimmed flush. narrower extremities than the
the top of the head of the rivet. If not, a file should be used center, many wings of aircraft
fine to make the cut flush, taking precautions they are sharpened

not to damage the surface of the metal being joined.

Figure A: special extractor or riveter, this can be

manual or automatic watch videohere

Friction keeps the stem in the stem handle of the

it may vibrate. Due to this possibility, the
friction-secured rivets are not approved for
replace the solid rivets of equal sizes, rather
a larger size than the solid rivet should be used
replaced.

Cherry locking rivets

mechanic
Spindle-shaped: Having the shape of a spindle or fusiform.
A safer rivet is the
cherry rivet for blocking
Objects or organisms in the shape of a spindle are called fusiform.
mechanic as shown in the
(ancient instrument used for spinning), that is, with shape
figures on the left a collar
the blocker is printed inside the slot of the stem that to its
times is inside the head of the rivet, this helps to prevent
that the installed stem comes out of the rivet. A rivet
mechanically locked can replace a solid rivet
of the same measure.

The operation of these rivets is very similar in

principle of friction-secured rivets but
additionally incorporate the locking collar and an anvil of
impulse. Let's see!

Rivet before the stem is pulled.

Stem

anvil

Stem

mango

Drive hammer
Cutting ring by forcing the end of the handle
Locking collar to form the bulging head on the side
blind of the metal sheet

1. stem: it is completely grooved with a break notch,

cutting ring and integral grip adjustment

2. impulse hammer: acts as a tool, placing the

lock collar in place
Cutting ring has made a cut.
mango and now a sprout of hala inside the
3. locking collar: mechanically locks the stem with the
mango
mango of the rivet during installation.

4. mango of the rivet.

The collar is forced down and in.

from the notch of the stem, the stem
cut flush with the head of the rivet
To remove the mechanical locking cherry rivet, follow the
steps in the following figures. File the broken end of the stem,
and make a mark in the center of the shaft. Drill out the part.
taper of the stem that provides the locking and, using a
center point, leverage on the tensioning ring. use a drill
narrowly smaller than the hole that I rivet, and drill
through the head of the rivet
Grip Adjuster: The grip adjuster is
that part of the fastener that forms
the blind head and generates clamp
load during installation

Cherry rivet animation of

mechanical head lock
avellanada at 100°
File the end of the flat shaft Make a mark in the center of
Technical English:
stem with the center point

Drill the tapered part of the stem Leverage to extract it

remaining locking collar

Drill the head of the rivet Leverage at the head of the

rivet

Figure 2-26. Removal of

mechanical locking rivets
cherry.
Remove the rivet from the hole
Threaded rivet (Rivnut)

Crank of the
When the B. F. Goodrich company conceived the boot mandrill
rubber thawing agent, this highlighted the need for
threaded holes in the sheet lining of
thin metals, on the surfaces of the wing and tail. This was
resolved with a threaded rivet.

Mango
movable

Screw-in rivet before Threaded rivet then

la instalación de ser deformado

Figure 2-27: In summary, a threaded rivet provides

a threaded hole in a thin sheet of metal. Figure 2-28: Tool for
to form rivet heads
To install a threaded rivet, drill the hole, roasted
Then carve the guide slot. Screw in the rivet.
about the tool's mandrel, as shown in
figure 2-28. Insert the threaded rivet into the Pin

hole with the guide in the guide slot and tighten the handle
mobile. This deforms the shaft of the threaded rivet,
allowing to turn the crank of the chuck to remove the
installed rivet tool.
Collar

High-strength rivets with pin.

Hi-Strength Pin Rivets Figure 2-29 Rivets with
highly steel stems
The construction techniques of modern aircraft resistant they can to be
they require the highest level of automation possible, and in installed in a location of
places where high straps are required the aircraft structure would be
resistance, where its removal is unlikely during normally used bolts of
normal maintenance, rivets with can be used steel with a shear load
high cut resistance fastener, as shown
In figure 2-29. This bracket can be installed
rapidly and has the same shear resistance as a
equivalent size structural steel bolt.
Essentially, these rivets are bolts without threads. In a Stamp: Tool used
one end has a head and, at the other end, a dip to install solid rivets
inside its cylindrical body. Finally, a necklace is aeronautics. It is steel
introduce into the sinking, to achieve a strong fit
tempered with the cutting form
from the head of the rivet in a
The rivets are installed by inserting the body of the
same with the correct grip length across the extreme. On the other end there
hole that has been reamed to achieve the size fits the riveter.
Correct. The pin of this type of rivet should not
expand to completely fill the hole, as it
It makes the shank of conventional solid rivets.

This so-called correct grip length does not allow

more than 1/16 inch of the straight portion of the pin
extends through the material, and the end of the
metal collar (not printed) must be a little more
higher than the cutting edge of the pin. It is allowed to use
a steel washer of 0.032 inches between the collar
and the material, in case it is necessary to fix the collar

To install this type of rivet, keep a

counter stamp against the flat head of the rivet and the
stamp placed against the collar as shown
in figure 2-30. The impact of the print introduces the
collar inside the sinking of the cylindrical body, this
in turn causes the perimeter of the pin to deform when
collar until it forms a soft cone, as seen in the
figure 2-31.

To remove a stem rivet, use a small

sharp chisel to separate the collar and pry this out
of the stem. After removing the collar, hit the
stem from the hole with a hammer.

Illustration1: print in the correct position to print to

collar inside the pin's sinking
 Cleat rivet Washer can be used from
installed correctly 0.032 of steel for
adjust the length of
adjustment of the pin

The collar no is The collar is sunk in

completely sunk excess, if there is more than

it can sink further 1/32 inches between the

shear perimeter of
slider and the stopper of
collar, it must be removed
the collar and install one

The pin is very long, The pin is very short,

remove the collar, install remove the collar and wear
washer, or use a pin longer strap.
shorter.
solid aluminum alloy rivet with bulging
in his head is made of alloy of

a solid aluminum alloy rivet without a mark on

you head is fact of alloy of

a solid aluminum alloy rivet with a

The raised point on his head is made of alloy.
___________
4. a solid aluminum alloy rivet with two
relief lines on his head are made of alloy
from __________________
5. a solid aluminum alloy rivet with a cross
in relief on his head is made of alloy of
__________________
6. solid aluminum alloy rivets can
to be used in the condition in which they are received without
treatment thermal additional son
encoded__________ which is made of
alloy of __________, and __________ which is
made of alloy of ____________
7. rivets icebox must be heat treated beforehand
to be used, these rivets are made of two
alloys you are son y
_____________.
8. The appropriate rivet to use for joining sheets of
magnesium alloy is a rivet made

9. Identify the style of the head, diameter, and length

of each of these solid rivets.
MS20426AD-4-4
ocabeza
alloy
odiameter
length

MS20470DD-6-8
head
alloy
odiameter
elongation
A rivet with a raised triangle on its head
it is made of _____________-
11. Cherry locking friction rivets are
approved to replace solid rivets of
equal measures. _______ (true or false)
12. Mechanical lock cherry rivets are
approved to replace solid rivets of
equal measures. ._______ (true or false)
13. The stem of a cherry mechanical locking rivet
it remains in the hollow handle at______________
what is stamped inside the slot on the stem
before it breaks itself.
A special bra that provides a threaded hole
to be used on thin aluminum sheets is
the________
15. High strength rivets with pins are
designated for use for loads_____________