Riveted Structures

metal structures whose elements are joined by rivets. Contemporary metal structures are fabricated predominantly by welding; the fact that rivet holes weaken the cross section of riveted structures by 15–20 percent, as well as the labor-intensiveness of such structures, has made riveted structures less advantageous than welded structures in many cases. However, riveted structures are more reliable under low-temperature conditions, in which the stress concentration that promotes brittle failure and develops around rivet holes is substantially less than the concentration of stresses in weld seams. Therefore, riveted structures are frequently preferred for construction in northern areas.

Riveted structures are also used in bridge construction (predominantly for railroad bridges) and in the construction of industrial buildings that carry large loads (for example, for beams supporting a crane), where the possibility of metal failure under a cyclic load is particularly dangerous or where the fabrication of a high-strength, built-up cross section by welding presents considerable technological difficulties.