Blind Rivets Glossary of Terms

Features of Blind Rivets

Annular Rings: A series of serrations which pass around the mandrel, shank and are perpendicular to it. These rings provide a gripping surface for the jaws of a setting tool and are most often used on mandrels having a high break load. Blind Rivet: A blind rivet is a blind fastener which has a self-contained mechanical or other feature which permits the formation of an upset on the blind end of the rivet and expansion of the rivet shank during rivet setting to join the component parts of an assembly. Blind Side Protrusion: Blind side protrusion is the distance, measure parallel to the axis of the rivet, from the largest diameter of the bearing surface of the head to the extreme end of the upset on the mandrel. Body: The tubular component of a blind rivet that performs the fastening. It contains a primary head (flange) and, when set, has an additional secondary head. Core: The core is the axially located hole in the rivet body. The core may or may not extend the full length of the rivet body, depending on rivet and style. Crimp: A notched area on the mandrel shank defining the point at which the mandrel breaks. Also, known as the predetermined break point. Grip Range: Total thickness of materials being fastened. Knurl: A series of serrations, usually vertical, on the mandrel shank. These serrations raise a portion of the mandrels surface thereby increasing its diameter. The knurl is used as a bulge on our products. Mandrel: Nail shaped member of a blind rivet assembly used to form the secondary head when setting the rivet. Mandrel Protrusion: Mandrel protrusion is the distance, measured parallel to the axis of the rivet, from the top of the head to the extreme end of the mandrel on the access side prior to rivet setting. Primary Head: Original head on the rivet body. Also known as the flange. Secondary Head: Head formed as a result of pulling the mandrel into the rivet body. Soft Set: Any rivet which requires a mandrel break load less than standard. Stand-off: A type of setting in which the primary head of the rivet does not come in contact with the work surface but is installed above it.

Blind Rivets Glossary of Terms

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Failure Modes
Bearing Failure: A type of joint failure in which the fastener remains intact but in which the joined materials themselves fail because they are not as strong as the fastener. Fastener Failure: A type of joint failure in which the fastener itself (i.e., the rivet body) breaks and releases the materials being joined. Galvanic Action: A chemical reaction between dissimilar metals. There may even be a reaction between different alloys of the same metal. The reaction is commonly referred to as corrosion. Head Popper: Term used to describe a mandrel head falling out of a rivet body after setting. Hi-Break: Mandrel that breaks in a place other than the crimp. Joint Failure: Defines a condition in which the fastened materials become unfastened. This may be due to a fastener failure or a bearing failure. Loose Set: A rivet setting in which the materials being fastened are not held together. Mandrel Protrusion: A condition in which the mandrel shank sticks up above the primary head after the rivet is set. Partial Pull-Through: Describes a condition in which the mandrel head is pulled into the material being fastened instead of breaking off as it comes up against the back of the work piece. Plate Freeze: A condition where during the setting operation, the hole on the secondary side becomes filled and the mandrel ball does not exert a clamping force between the plates being fastened, creating a loose set. Premature Break: Mandrel that breaks prior to setting the secondary head. Pull-Through: A condition in which the mandrel head is pulled entirely through the inside of the rivet body. The mandrel head may be pulled entirely out of the rivet, may protrude slightly or may even slide freely through the full length of the rivet body. Sheared Secondary Head: A failure in which the entire secondary head breaks off after installation.

Structural Terms
Break Load: Break load is the load in pounds or newtons necessary to break the mandrel when setting mandrel type rivets. Clamping Force: Clamping force is the compressive load applied to the joint by a blind rivet after setting. It is related, but is not equal to, the difference between the mandrels break load and the force required to form the secondary head.

Blind Rivets Glossary of Terms

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Mandrel Retention: Mandrel retention is the ability of the rivet body to retain the entrapped length of mandrel. Pre-load: Pre-load is the residual axial tensile load in the blind rivet after setting. Pull Up: Ability to draw two pieces of material together. Pull-together: Pull-together is the ability of the rivet to close a gap between the components to be joined while working against the rivet setting load. Sealing: Sealing is the ability of the rivet to prevent the escape of gas, liquid, or solid after rivet setting. Ultimate Shear Strength: The ultimate shear strength of a blind rivet is the maximum shear load in pounds of newtons which the rivet is capable of attaining prior to failure. Ultimate Tensile Strength: The ultimate tensile strength of a blind rivet is the maximum tensile load in pounds or newtons which the rivet is capable of attaining prior to failure.

Blind Rivets Glossary of Terms

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