Self-piercing riveting for single-strap butt joints in similar aluminium alloys

The self-piercing riveting (SPR) single-strap butt joints (butt joint) were fabricated in similar sheets of Al5052 aluminium alloy and 1420 aluminium-lithium alloy. Mechanical characteristics of SPR butt joints of different materials were discussed comparing with their corresponding SPR single-lap joints (lap joint). The effects of the rivet pitch and the strap length on the butt joints of different materials were investigated. Results indicated that the lap joints have better performance in strength and stiffness, while the butt joints have more superior shock resistance capacity. The strap length had some impact on the failure behaviour of the joint but not the joint strength. The load borne capacity of the butt joints was highly dependent on rivet pitch.