Hot riveting
As part of the project “Development of a Modern, Science-Based Hot-Riveting Process as an Alternative to Form-Fit Joining Methods,” the Chair of Rail Vehicles is focusing on rail vehicle-specific applications and the associated requirements for the design, calculation, and manufacturing of assemblies using this joining technology. The objective is to develop a corresponding draft technical guideline.
Until the 1930s, hot riveting was the dominant method for joining sheets and beams in the construction of locomotives, wagons, and other railway vehicles, as well as in load-bearing assemblies, open or pressure-loaded containers, and cladding components.
In modern rail vehicles, only cold riveting technologies are currently used to join pre-assembled modules, as in modular manufacturing concepts. The main advantages of riveting in general are the ability to combine different materials and the significantly lower heat input, which helps to avoid component distortion compared to welding.
Within the scope of this project, the Chair is focusing on the following areas:
- Research of historical and current standards
- Investigation of component geometries
- FEM simulation of riveted joints and comparison with laboratory specimens