Fastener Push-In vs. Rivet Gun Installation

» Adan Saldana, Mechanical Engineering

» Jackson Karcz, Mechanical Engineering

» Beraca Luboya, Mechanical Engineering

» Van Rivas, Mechanical Engineering

ADVISOR: Sam Shoemaker

DAB: Jung Kim

SPONSOR: Boeing

LIAISON: Monica Brockway, Tanni Sisco, Nicholas Reasoner

The ENSC-53 team partnered with Boeing to develop a correlation between different insertion methods of fasteners. The two methods studied in this project were a constant-press method using a hydraulic press and a rivet gun insertion method. Press fit bolts are easily tested in the lab, as well as inserted on the shop floor, but there is no correlation between the forces required between the two methods. The team created adaptors for the rivet gun and test coupons in order to instrument them with a load cell to collect data. A procedure was created for a repeatable process to mitigate error and created consistent data. After all the testing, the team found a mathematical correlation between the two methods of bolt insertion.