When installing rivets in soft materials, you may want to use rivet washers. Rivets play an important role in aerospace manufacturing. Consisting of a head and shaft, they are used to permanently secure two or more parts together. Rivet washers, however, can reinforce these joints while protecting the parts from damage.
What Are Rivet Washers?
Rivet washers are disc-shaped fasteners designed for use with rivets. Also known as backup washers, they increase the surface area to which rivets apply pressure. As a result, unintentional damage is less likely to occur, and the riveted joints are typically stronger.
How Rivet Washers Work
Rivet washers work like most other types of washers. They distribute the fastener’s load across a larger area.
Whether it’s a temporary fastener like a screw or bolt or a permanent fastener like a rivet, installing a fastener will apply pressure to the parts with which it’s used. The pressure or load of the fastener will be isolated to a small area. If the fastened part is made of a soft material, this concentrated load may cause damage. Using a washer can protect the part from damage by distributing the load across a larger area.
Rivet washers leverage this same principle of load distribution. They spread the load of a rivet across a larger area, which reduces stress on the parts. Additionally, rivet washers provide a better clamping surface and increase the strength of riveted joints.
Choosing the Right Rivet Washers
You can find rivet washers in different sizes. Pay attention to both the inside diameter and outside diameter when choosing rivet washers. The inside diameter represents the length from the widest part of the inner edge to the opposite inner edge. The outside diameter, on the other hand, represents the length from the widest part of the outer edge to the opposite outer edge.
Rivet washers are also available in different materials. Some of them are made of stainless steel or carbon steel, whereas others are made of aluminum, brass or various alloys.
Some rivet washers are lined with rubber or other elastomeric materials. The purpose of these rubber-lined rivet washers is to seal spaces. They will still distribute the load of rivets, but rubber-lined rivet washers also create tight seals.
In Conclusion
Not all washers are used with screws and bolts. Some of them are used with other types of fasteners. Rivet washers, for instance, are designed specifically for use with rivets.