Influence of rivet clamping stress on fatigue crack growth behaviour

Steel structures built between 1850 and 1940 are mostly made of mild steel. Riveting was the dominating joining technique. Fatigue failure respectively fatigue safety is major concern if these cyclic loaded such as bridges hydraulic steel structures. Considering period operation almost hundred years, determination remaining life main aim assessment The clamping force rivets significantly influences crack propagation. Clamping stress caused by shrinkage hot driven while cooling down. corresponding friction at contact surfaces reduces notch rivet hole thus also driving force. In this paper, experiments for determining prestressing well riveted joints presented. For typical design details numerical models generated to determine stresses uncracked components intensity factors cracked components. Regarding growth rates, only few data have been published old steels so far. Thus, research program includes experimental investigation parameters.