Tensile tests of riveted joints with artificial corrosion damage of rivet head

Abstract

Rivet heads, projecting parts of riveted joints, are likely corroded, and the corrosion damage affects the mechanical behaviour. However, since the influence has not been clarified and ultimate resistance formulas of the intact and corroded joints have not been proposed, it is difficult to evaluate th e remaining resistances of existing joints. As a basic study to address these challenges, herein, tensile tests of coupon riveted joint cut off from an existing girder bridge were conducted to investigate influences of the corrosion extent of rivet heads with artificia l corrosion damage on the mechanical behaviour. The obtained results indicate that rivet head and thread corrosion have little influence on the ultimate resistance within the loss of rivet thread less than 30% of splice plate thickness.