Numerical evaluation of mechanical performance for self-piercing riveted fiber-reinforced plastic and metal sheets

Abstract

Finite element analysis is presented to evaluate the mechanical performance of self-piercing riveted fiber-reinforced plastic and metal sheets. The mechanical properties of the rivet and the sheets subjected to joining are considered for reliable simulation. Yielding and hardening behaviour of the rivet was inversely characterized by a coupled experimental-numerical analysis of a compression test, while those of the sheets were deduced by directional tensile test as usual. Fracture criterion was characterized and considered only in the sheets. The geometric features of the die and the rivet were also quantitatively measured and applied to the simulation as the boundary conditions. Consecutive simulations of riveting process and tensile shear test were carried out, which leads to determining sensitivity of peak load to characteristic rivet-joining features such as interlock and bottom thickness.