Evaluation of the Mechanical Performance of Self-Piercing Rivets in Friction Stir Welded Structures

This paper presents the coupon performance data of friction stir welded tailor welded blanks (TWBs) joined to a monolithic aluminum sheet by self-piercing rivets (SPRs). Uniaxial tensile tests were performed to characterize the joint strength and the total energy absorption capability of the TWB/monolithic sheet joint assemblies. Cyclic fatigue tests were also conducted to characterize the fatigue behavior and failure mechanisms of the jointed assemblies. This study provides data for the automotive designer to determine whether friction stir welded aluminum TWB/monolithic sheet joints are within the target joint strengths for a particular application if it should be pierced during the assembly process.