Here are some examples of situations where each type of rivet would be appropriate:

• Use standard rivets to fasten together thin pieces of metal, such as the body panels of an automobile.
• Use structural rivets to fasten together thick pieces of metal (such as the fuselage of an aircraft).
• Use standard rivets to fasten together materials that are not prone to vibrations, such as furniture.
• Use structural rivets to fasten together materials that are prone to vibrations, such as the engine mounts of an automobile.

Typical structural rivet applications:

• Automotive industry
• Commercial vehicles.
• Air Conditioning and Heating.
• Metal construction and metal structures
• Electrical appliances.
• Agricultural machinery
• Electrical boxes.

Instead of the breakaway mandrel of a standard rivet, structural rivets have a locking mandrel, which means that the mandrel is not pulled through the hole but is instead locked into place within the rivet body. This provides the rivet with a higher shear strength and pullout strength, as well as greater resistance to vibrations.

A standard rivet pin head normally deforms the body to attach the rivet to the substrate (pic 1a). The pin head of a structural rivet is usually longer than in a standard rivet (see diagrams). This gets pulled into the rivet body and locked into place within it (pic 1b). This provides the rivet with a higher shear strength and pull-out strength, as well as greater resistance to vibrations.

Structural rivets come in many shapes, sizes and design. Scell-it UK have a wide variety available including Superiv, T-lock and Hyperiv.

Contact us at Scell-it UK for more information or help specifying the right rivet for your job.