Are Rivets Stronger Than Bolts ? How to Choose Rivets or Bolts ?
Are rivets stronger than bolts ?Not sure how to choose the right fasteners for your project? Don’t worry, this article can solve your problem. I show you the benefits and applications of rivets and bolts. You can quickly solve your confusion with this article.
Table of Contents
What is a Rivet ?
Blind rivets, also known as blind rivets, are a kind of rivets suitable for single-sided riveting. Its high reliability, connection strength, long life, easy to operate and use, can be used for aluminum alloy, structural steel and composite materials connection.
Blind Rivet consists of two parts, which are rivet body and nail core. In the production process, the rivet body is usually produced using wire cold heading, plate stamping or tube processing.
Blind rivets are suitable for use where the joint can only be riveted from one side. The rivet is placed into a pre-drilled hole and the core is pulled with a special riveting tool to deform and expand the rivet body to realize the fixing.
What is a Bolt ?
Bolt is a common fastener used to join two or more parts. It usually consists of a rod-like body with external threads, a head, and a nut.
The body of the bolt has external threads for securing the bolt to a part. The head of the bolt typically has a hexagonal shape to allow it to be turned using a wrench or wrench. A nut is a part with internal threads that is used to secure a bolt to another part by threading it to match the bolt’s external threads.
A bolt is used by threading the body of the bolt through the hole of the part to be joined, and then screwing the nut onto the body of the bolt so that the two parts are tightly joined together. By tightening the nut, the bolt creates a pre-pressure that makes the connection stronger and more stable. Bolts can also be disassembled and reused, giving them greater flexibility and convenience.
Are Rivets Stronger Than Bolts ? Rivets vs Bolts: Comparison of Rivets and Bolts
Are rivets stronger than bolts? Rivets and bolts are common fasteners. They are used to connect two or more parts. So how are they different? How do you choose which one to use? I listed a table for a rivet vs. bolt comparison.
| Rivets | Bolts | |
|---|---|---|
| Threading | No threading required | Requires threading of connected parts |
| Strength and Stability | Provides high strength, permanent connection | Higher strength and stability |
| Suitable for thin plates | For thin plate connections and thin materials | Suitable for a wide range of materials |
| Tools | Specialized installation Tools | Brick marking can be done with a hand-held tool |
| Installation | Quick installation, no thread rotation required | Requires threaded swivel mounting for slower speeds |
| Disassembly and Reuse | Not easy to disassemble, need to cut the pins short to unattach. Cannot be reused. | Installation can be accomplished using standard tools and is reusable |
| Usage Scenarios | Unilateral mounting. Both sides mounted. | Installation on both sides only |
Comparison of the Strength of Rivets and Bolts
When it comes to strength, bolts always offer more strength than rivets. Bolts secure the connection between parts by means of threads, which are shaped to provide the bolt with greater resistance to tensile and shear forces.
The strength of a bolt depends on two main factors: the material used and the grade. Bolts are usually made of high-strength steel, which has a high tensile and shear strength. The grade of a bolt identifies its strength level. Common grades include 4.8, 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9, with the number representing the bolt’s tensile strength rating.
Rivets are generally lower in strength compared to bolts. Rivet connections rely heavily on the deformation and expansion of the rivet body to form a tight connection. They are generally not as strong as bolts in terms of tensile and shear strength. But this does not detract from the popularity of rivets. In unidirectional applications, blind rivets provide adequate strength and stability. And blind rivets have the advantage of lower economic costs.
So when choosing whether to use rivets or bolts, you need to evaluate the requirements of the actual application and the level of strength needed. If the application requires a high level of strength or needs to withstand large tensile or shear forces, bolts may be a more appropriate choice. For other applications, rivets would be a better choice.
Strength Characteristics of Blind Rivets
Rivets are commonly made of four materials: aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, and copper. We will make a brief comparison from the tensile strength and shear strength.
Strength Comparison between Different Materials
The rivets provide adequate strength for everyday use. Of course, rivets use different materials. The strength is also different. We made a simple comparison between the materials.
Tensile Strength: Of the four materials, carbon steel usually has the highest tensile strength, followed by stainless steel, copper, and aluminum has the lowest tensile strength. Carbon steel has high strength due to its high carbon content. Stainless steel has better corrosion resistance due to the addition of alloying elements such as chromium, but usually has a slightly lower tensile strength than carbon steel. Copper has relatively low tensile strength, but has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. So the strength of these four materials in the order of carbon steel > stainless steel > aluminum > copper.
Shear Strength: Carbon steels also typically have high strength in terms of shear strength. Stainless steel is comparable to or slightly lower than carbon steel in terms of shear strength. Aluminum has a relatively low shear strength, while copper also has a low shear strength. The order of shear strength among commonly used materials is: carbon steel > stainless steel > aluminum > copper.
Strength Characteristics of Bolts
The main strength of a bolt comes from its tensile strength. Therefore, the grade of bolts is also standardized according to the amount of tensile strength. But other strengths of bolts are also good, such as shear strength, prestressing, etc.
Tensile Strength Rating of bolts
The grade of a bolt is the tensile strength class of the bolt, also known as the strength class or performance class. Bolt grades are usually identified with a number and a letter, where the number indicates the tensile strength level of the bolt and the letter indicates a specific characteristic of the material or state of treatment. The following are common bolt grades and their corresponding markings:
Bolt grade marking (numerical):
- Grade 3.6: Indicates that the tensile strength of the bolt is 300 MPa and the shear strength is 180 MPa.
- Grade 4.6: indicates that the tensile strength of the bolt is 400 MPa and the shear strength is 240 MPa.
- Grade 4.8: The tensile strength of the bolt is 400 MPa and the shear strength is 320 MPa.
- Grade 5.6: The tensile strength of the bolt is 500 MPa and the shear strength is 300 MPa.
- Grade 8.8: The tensile strength of the bolt is 800 MPa and the shear strength is 640 MPa.
- Grade 10.9: The tensile strength of the bolt is 1000 MPa and the shear strength is 900 MPa.
- Grade 12.9: The tensile strength of the bolt is 1200 MPa and the shear strength is 1080 MPa.
Material characteristic marking (letter)
- No marking: generally indicates carbon steel material.
- S: indicates stainless steel material.
- A2: Stainless steel 304 material.
- A4: Stainless steel 316 material.
Why Use Rivets Instead of Bolts ?
Why do many fastening connections now use rivets instead of bolts? Are rivets stronger than bolts? It really depends on the specific needs of the use to decide which one to use. In the vast majority of applications, rivets can be used in place of bolts.
Compared to bolts, rivets typically have greater resistance to vibration. Automobiles, airplanes, trains, and other tools often experience severe vibrations during operation. So in these industries, rivets become the most suitable choice.
In industrial machinery and equipment, there will be a large number of fasteners. The low price and quick installation of blind rivets highlights the advantages. This makes blind rivets the top choice for fasteners in machinery manufacturing.
Three Advantages of Rivets Over Bolts
Durability and Strength
What makes blind rivets so popular is their extreme durability and strength. Ideal for projects that require a strong bond, such as aircraft manufacturing or automotive repair. The body of the rivet is inserted into a pre-drilled hole and secured using pressure, while the head expands outwards when hammered, providing extra security. This makes them much stronger than bolts. Bolts may loosen due to vibration but rivets do not.
Low Prices
Another advantage of blind rivets is their low economic cost. Compared to the price of bolts, the price of blind rivets is very cheap. Therefore, if you are on a budget, it is perfectly safe to use them without worrying about exceeding your budget. In addition, they do not require nuts or washers like bolts do, which further reduces the cost.
Wholesale Blind Rivets From China will be less Expensive !
Quick Installation
The process of installing rivets is very quick. And after installation, there is no way to remove the rivets unless they are specifically cut using a saw or drill. This means that the rivets will not come loose over time. In contrast, bolts can loosen over time and require regular maintenance if you want them to remain secure over time.
Looking for Blind Rivets? Rivmate can Help You !
Do you want to reduce costs for your business? Or do you want your customers to be satisfied with your customer service? As one of the leading Blind Rivet manufacturers in China, Rivmate Rivet provides the best quality Rivet products. If your project has a need for rivets, that’s great. If you have any questions, please contact our engineers immediately. We provide assistance and consultation to our customers by designing customized rivet solutions. Get in touch today!
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