An experimental and numerical investigation on self-piercing riveting

In this paper, the self-piercing riveting process is studied experimentally and numerically. A 2D axisymmetric numerical model of the riveting process was generated using the finite element code LS-DYNA. The model was validated against experimental results. The results from the riveting process simulation were used to generate a 3D numerical model of the riveted connection. This model was based on the post-process geometry and corresponding material properties obtained from the riveting process. The 3D model was used to simulate the structural behaviour of the riveted connection under combined tensile and shear loading conditions.