/ /Rivet Design Calculator
Rivet Design Calculator
Size a single-row riveted lap joint: enter the joint load, rivet geometry and material allowables to check shear, bearing and plate tear-out instantly.
Joint load P (N)
Rivet diameter d (mm)
Number of rivets n (-)
Shear planes per rivet
Plate thickness t (mm)
Plate width w (mm)
Allowable shear stress (MPa)
Allowable bearing stress (MPa)
Allowable plate tensile stress (MPa)
Decimal Precision
Calculation Results
Rivet shear stress: 44.21 MPa (PASS)
Bearing stress: 52.08 MPa (PASS)
Plate net-section stress: 34.72 MPa (PASS)
Net area: 576.00 mm²
Shear capacity: 40715.04 N
Bearing capacity: 76800.00 N
Tear capacity: 80640.00 N
Joint efficiency: 30.29 %
Governing mode: Rivet shear
What Is the Rivet Design Calculator?
The rivet design calculator sizes a single-row riveted lap joint using the three classical checks — rivet shear τ = P / (n·m·A), bearing σ_b = P / (n·d·t), and plate tensile stress at the net section σ_t = P / ((w − n·d)·t) — and reports capacities, utilisation ratios, joint efficiency and the governing failure mode.
This calculator is part of the comprehensive Mechanical Engineering collection at AtlasCalcs, covering machine design, power transmission, and mechanical analysis tools.
Typical Value Ranges
| Parameter | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Rivet diameter d | 6–24 mm structural; 3–12 mm sheet-metal |
| Pitch (along load) | ≥ 3d |
| Edge distance | ≥ 1.5d from hole centre |
| Common materials | Steel, aluminium, stainless steel rivets and plate |
| Design Standard | Shigley / ASME / applicable structural code |
| Joint efficiency (single row) | 60–75% typical |
Common Applications
| Application | Description |
|---|---|
| Pressure vessels & tanks | Longitudinal and circumferential riveted seams |
| Structural steelwork | Trusses, frames and built-up sections |
| Aerospace sheet structures | Skin-to-frame and splice joints |
| Rail & heavy equipment | High-vibration joints where welding is unsuitable |
How to Use
- Enter the joint load P — the tensile force the joint must carry.
- Enter rivet diameter, count and shear planes — use 1 for a lap joint, 2 for a butt joint with straps.
- Enter plate thickness, width and allowables — from your material grade and design code.
- Read the governing mode — strengthen that mode first (more/bigger rivets for shear, thicker plate for bearing, wider plate for tear-out).
Engineering Formula
Shear, bearing and net-section tension are checked independently against their allowables:
τ = P / (n·m·A), σ_b = P / (n·d·t), σ_t = P / ((w − n·d)·t)
where A = π·d²/4. Capacities are P_shear = n·m·A·τ_allow, P_bearing = n·d·t·σ_b_allow and P_tear = (w − n·d)·t·σ_t_allow; efficiency η = min(P_shear, P_bearing, P_tear) / (w·t·σ_t_allow).
Frequently Asked Questions
- It checks the three classic lap-joint failure modes: rivet shear (load over the rivet cross-section, times the number of shear planes), bearing (load over the projected rivet–plate contact area d × t), and tensile tear-out of the plate at its net section (width minus rivet holes, times thickness).
- Shear stress τ = P / (n × m × A), where P is the joint load, n is the number of rivets, m is the number of shear planes per rivet (1 for single shear, 2 for double shear), and A = π × d² / 4 is the rivet cross-section. Shear capacity per rivet is A × τ_allow × m.
- Bearing stress σ_b = P / (n × d × t), where d is the rivet diameter and t is the plate thickness. It is the contact pressure between rivet shank and hole wall. Bearing capacity per rivet is d × t × σ_b_allow.
- Net area A_net = (w − n_row × d) × t, where w is the plate width and n_row is the number of rivets in the critical transverse row (this calculator assumes a single row, so n_row = n). Tensile stress σ_t = P / A_net, compared against the plate allowable tensile stress.
- Single shear (m = 1) is a lap joint with one shear plane per rivet. Double shear (m = 2) is a butt joint with cover straps, giving two shear planes per rivet and roughly twice the shear capacity for the same rivet size.
- Efficiency η = min(P_shear, P_bearing, P_tear) / (w × t × σ_t_allow), the ratio of the joint's weakest capacity to the strength of the solid (undrilled) plate. Well-proportioned single-row lap joints typically reach 60–75%; multi-row joints reach higher.
- Common practice: pitch (rivet spacing along the load) ≥ 3d, edge distance (hole centre to plate edge) ≥ 1.5d, and transverse spacing ≥ 2d. Tighter spacing risks tear-out and bearing interaction; this calculator flags net-area problems but does not enforce spacing rules.
- Small rivets in thick plate tend to fail in shear; large rivets in thin plate tend to fail in bearing; narrow plates with many holes tend to tear at the net section. The calculator reports all three utilisation ratios so you can see the governing mode.
- Joint load P (N), rivet diameter d (mm), number of rivets n, shear planes per rivet m (1 or 2), plate thickness t (mm), plate width w (mm), plus allowable shear, bearing and tensile stresses (MPa) for your materials and standard.
- Rivet shear stress and utilisation, bearing stress and utilisation, plate net-section tensile stress and utilisation, per-rivet capacities, joint efficiency, and the governing failure mode — all with SI units.
- Classical riveted-joint theory per Shigley's Mechanical Engineering Design and ASME pressure-vessel / structural practice. Allowables depend on rivet and plate grades — enter values from your material spec or code.
- It gives preliminary sizing for static shear, bearing and tear-out. Final designs must also consider fatigue, hole preparation, clamping/friction, corrosion, inspection and the applicable design code — always have critical joints reviewed by a qualified engineer.
What does the rivet design calculator check?
What is the shear formula for a rivet?
What is the bearing formula?
How is plate tensile tear-out calculated?
What is single vs double shear?
What is joint efficiency?
What pitch and edge-distance rules apply?
Which failure mode usually governs?
What inputs are needed?
What outputs are provided?
What standards are referenced?
Is this suitable for professional use?
Related Mechanical Engineering Calculators
External Resources
- Shigley Mechanical Engineering Design — Standard textbook treatment of riveted and bolted joints.
- Engineering Toolbox — Rivets — Rivet sizes, strengths and joint reference data.
- ASME — Codes, standards, and publications.
- MIT OCW Mechanical Engineering — Free course materials from MIT.