Self-piercing riveting for aluminium alloys-composites hybrid joints

In the paper, the growing interest on hybrid joints developed between composite panels and aluminium alloys blanks is focused. The self-piercing riveting operation is considered and its feasibility for the proposed joints verified. The most relevant process parameters were investigated in order to determine a suitable process window and, what is more, the mechanical performances of the developed joints were investigated in order to determine process parameters aimed to maximise them. Finally, the failure mechanics of the obtained joints were considered in order to highlight the mechanisms which occur and determine the lost of the load carrying capability of the joints. The developed experiments demonstrated that self-piercing riveting can be effectively used to join fibreglass composite panels and aluminium blanks.