@article{64678, abstract = {{One of the major topics in the modern automotive industry is reducing emissions and increasing the mileage range. To tackle this challenge, on the one hand, modifying the powertrain system is a possibility, and on the other hand, lightweight design offers various possibilities. Multi-Material Design (MMD) involves designing car bodies that combine different materials that require joining. Given the variety of materials, mechanical joining processes are preferred. Especially the current development of the Giga/Mega-casting process concerning aluminium casting and the subsequent mechanical joining illustrates the challenges of this material group. In car production, aluminium castings are mainly made from aluminium-silicon (AlSi) alloys. Ultimately, the alloy system's insufficient ductility leads to crack initiation during mechanical joining. Cast parts are therefore often used in areas of the car body that are exposed to high-pressure loads. For example, self-piercing riveting (SPR) is used due to its high load-bearing capacity. In this study, improved joinability is demonstrated by influencing the microstructure through tailored solidification rates and a developed heat-treatment chain strategy adapted for hypoeutectic AlSi systems. Data on microstructure, mechanical, and joining properties are used to develop a solidification-joining correlation for the SPR process across a range of Si contents and solidification rates. The purpose is to develop the ability to produce suitable aluminium castings with sufficient joinability, thereby improving versatility.}}, author = {{Neuser, Moritz and Kaimann, Pia Katharina and Stratmann, Ina and Bobbert, Mathias and Klöckner, Johann Moritz Benedikt and Mann, Moritz and Hoyer, Kay-Peter and Meschut, Gerson and Schaper, Mirko}}, journal = {{Journal of Manufacturing Processes}}, keywords = {{Mechanical joining, Aluminium, Self-piercing riveting, Casting, Microstructure, Joinability AlSi-alloys}}, publisher = {{Elsevier}}, title = {{{Solidification-joinability correlation of hypoeutectic aluminium casting alloys for self-piercing riveting (SPR)}}}, doi = {{https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2026.02.040}}, volume = {{164}}, year = {{2026}}, } @inproceedings{61149, abstract = {{The use of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (FRTP) in automotive industry increases due to their excellent material properties and possibility of rapid processing. The scale spanning heterogeneity of their material structure and its influence on the material behavior, however, presents significant challenges for most joining technologies, such as self-piercing riveting (SPR). During mechanical joining, the material structure is significantly altered within and around the joining zone, heavily influencing the material behavior. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying phenomena of material alteration during the SPR process is essential as basis for validating numerical simulations. This study examines the material structure at ten stages of a step-setting test of SPR with two FRTP sheets with glass-fiber reinforcement. Utilizing X-ray computed tomography (CT), the damage phenomena within different areas of the setting test are analyzed three-dimensionally and key parameters are quantified. Dominating phenomena during the penetration of the rivet into the laminate are fiber failure (FF), interfiber failure (IFF) and fiber bending, while delamination, fiber kinking and roving splitting are also observed. At the final stages, the bottom layers of the second sheet collapse and form a bulge into the cavity of the die.}}, author = {{Dargel, Alrik and Gröger, Benjamin and Schlichter, Malte Christian and Gerritzen, Johannes and Köhler, Daniel and Meschut, Gerson and Gude, Maik and Kupfer, Robert}}, booktitle = {{Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Integrity-Reliability-Failure (IRF2025)}}, editor = {{Gomes, J.F. Silva and Meguid, Shaker A.}}, isbn = {{9789727523238}}, keywords = {{self-piercing riveting, computed tomography, thermoplastic composites, process-structure-interaction}}, location = {{Porto}}, publisher = {{FEUP}}, title = {{{LOCAL DEFORMATION AND FAILURE OF COMPOSITES DURING SELF-PIERCING RIVETING: A CT BASED MICROSTRUCTURE INVESTIGATION}}}, doi = {{10.24840/978-972-752-323-8}}, year = {{2025}}, } @article{58807, abstract = {{One of the most important strategies for reducing CO2 emissions in the mobility sector is lightweight construction. In particular, the car body offers several opportunities for weight reduction. Multi-material designs are increasingly being applied to select the most suitable material for the respective load and ultimately achieve synergy effects. For example, aluminium castings are used at the nodes of a spaceframe body. Subsequently, these are joined with profiles to form the bodyshell. To join different materials mechanical joining techniques, such as semi-tubular self-piercing riveting, are deployed. According to the current state of the art, cracks occur in the aluminium castings during the mechanical joining process as a result of the high degree of deformation. Although the aluminium casting alloys of the AlSi-system exhibit low ductility, these alloys reveal excellent castability. In particular, the ability to cast thin structural parts is enabled by the low liquidus point of the near eutectic aluminium casting alloys. This study addresses the mechanical joining properties of the near eutectic aluminium casting alloy AlSi12, depending on different microstructures. These are achieved by annealing processes and modifying agents. Through an adapted heat treatment, the previously lamellar morphology can be transformed into a globular morphology, which leads to increased ductility and prevents the formation of cracks during the self-piercing riveting (SPR). The joinability is investigated using different die geometries, whereas the joint formation is analysed regarding crack initiation. To evaluate the increased ductility, microstructural and mechanical tests are performed and finally, a microstructure-joinability correlation is established.}}, author = {{Neuser, Moritz and Holtkamp, Pia Katharina and Hoyer, Kay-Peter and Kappe, Fabian and Yildiz, Safak and Bobbert, Mathias and Meschut, Gerson and Schaper, Mirko}}, journal = {{The Journal of Materials: Design and Applications, Part L}}, keywords = {{aluminium, casting, microstructure, joinability, self-piercing riveting}}, location = {{Porto, Portugal}}, publisher = {{Sage Publications}}, title = {{{Mechanical properties and joinability of the near-eutectic aluminium casting alloy AlSi12}}}, doi = {{10.1177/14644207251319922}}, year = {{2025}}, } @inproceedings{60290, abstract = {{The constantly increasing demand for climate protection and resource conservation requires innovative and versatile joining processes that improve adaptability to the joining task and robustness to enable flexible manufacturing on a production line. Therefore, the versatile SPR (V-SPR) and tumbling SPR (T-SPR) were developed. Using the example of a mixed material combination HCT590X+Z (t0 = 1.0 mm) / EN AW-6014 T4 (t0 = 2.0 mm), these processes were examined and compared with regard to the binding mechanisms form closure and force closure using micrographs, non-destructive resistance measurements and destructive torsion tests. For this purpose, a new sample geometry was defined, and the methods were adapted to the SPR process variants.}}, author = {{Lüder, Stephan and Holtkamp, Pia Katharina and Wituschek, Simon and Bobbert, Mathias and Meschut, Gerson and Lechner, Michael and Schmale, Hans Christian}}, booktitle = {{Materials Research Proceedings}}, editor = {{Meschut, Gerson and Bobbert, Mathias and Duflou, Joost and Fratini, Livan and Hagenah, Hinnerk and Martins, Paulo A. F. and Merklein, Marion and Micari, Fabrizio}}, issn = {{2474-395X}}, keywords = {{Joining, Self-Piercing Riveting, Sheet Metal}}, location = {{Paderborn}}, pages = {{101 -- 108}}, publisher = {{Materials Research Forum LLC}}, title = {{{Analysis of the binding mechanisms depending on versatile process variants of self-piercing riveting}}}, doi = {{10.21741/9781644903551-13}}, volume = {{52}}, year = {{2025}}, } @inbook{22930, abstract = {{Self-piercing riveting is an established technique for joining multi-material structures in car body manufacturing. Rivets for self-piercing riveting differ in their geometry, the material used, the condition of the material and their surface condition. To shorten the manufacturing process by omitting the heat treatment and the coating process, the authors have elaborated a concept for the use of stainless steel with high strain hardening as a rivet material. The focus of the present investigation is on the evaluation of the influences of the rivet’s geometry and material on its deformation behaviour. Conventional rivets of types P and HD2, a rivet with an improved geometry made of treatable steel 38B2, and rivets made of the stainless steels 1.3815 and 1.4541 are examined. The analysis is conducted by means of multi-step joining tests for two material combinations comprising high-strength steel HCT70X and aluminium EN AW-5083. The joints are cut to provide a cross-section and the deformation behaviour of the different rivets is analysed on the basis of the measured changes in geometry and hardness. In parallel, an examination of the force-stroke curves provides further insights. It can be demonstrated that, besides the geometry, the material strength, in particular, has a significant influence on the deformation behaviour of the rivet. The strength of steel 1.4541 is seen to be too low for the joining task, while the strength of steel 1.3815 is sufficient, and hence the investigation confirms the capability of rivets made of 1.3815 for joining even challenging material combinations.}}, author = {{Uhe, Benedikt and Kuball, Clara-Maria and Merklein, Marion and Meschut, Gerson}}, booktitle = {{Forming the Future - Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on the Technology of Plasticity. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series.}}, editor = {{Daehn, Glenn and Cao, Jian and Kinsey, Brad and Tekkaya, Erman and Vivek, Anupam and Yoshida, Yoshinori}}, keywords = {{Self-piercing riveting, Lightweight design, Deformation behaviour, Stainless steel, High nitrogen steel}}, pages = {{1495--1506}}, publisher = {{Springer}}, title = {{{Self-Piercing Riveting Using Rivets Made of Stainless Steel with High Strain Hardening}}}, doi = {{10.1007/978-3-030-75381-8_124}}, year = {{2021}}, } @inproceedings{22274, abstract = {{The use of high-strength steel and aluminium is rising due to the intensified efforts being made in lightweight design, and self-piercing riveting is becoming increasingly important. Conventional rivets for self-piercing riveting differ in their geometry, the material used, the condition of the material and the coating. To shorten the manufacturing process, the use of stainless steel with high strain hardening as the rivet material represents a promising approach. This allows the coating of the rivets to be omitted due to the corrosion resistance of the material and, since the strength of the stainless steel is achieved by cold forming, heat treatment is no longer required. In addition, it is possible to adjust the local strength within the rivet. Because of that, the authors have elaborated a concept for using high nitrogen steel 1.3815 as the rivet material. The present investigation focusses on the joint strength in order to evaluate the capability of rivets in high nitrogen steel by comparison to conventional rivets made of treatable steel. Due to certain challenges in the forming process of the high nitrogen steel rivets, deviations result from the targeted rivet geometry. Mainly these deviations cause a lower joint strength with these rivets, which is, however, adequate. All in all, the capability of the new rivet is proven by the results of this investigation. }}, author = {{Uhe, Benedikt and Kuball, Clara-Maria and Merklein, Marion and Meschut, Gerson}}, keywords = {{Self-piercing Riveting, Joining Technology, Rivet Geometry, Rivet Material, High Nitrogen Steel, Joint Strength}}, location = {{Liège, Belgien}}, title = {{{Strength of self-piercing riveted Joints with conventional Rivets and Rivets made of High Nitrogen Steel}}}, doi = {{10.25518/esaform21.1911}}, year = {{2021}}, } @proceedings{19976, abstract = {{The aim to reduce pollutant emission has led to a trend towards lightweight construction in car body development during the last years. As a consequence of the resulting need for multi-material design, mechanical joining technologies become increasingly important. Mechanical joining allows for the combination of dissimilar materials, while thermic joining techniques reach their limits. Self-piercing riveting enables the joining of dissimilar materials by using semi-tubular rivets as mechanical fasteners. The rivet production, however, is costly and time-consuming, as the rivets generally have to be hardened, tempered and coated after forming, in order to achieve an adequate strength and corrosion resistance. A promising approach to improve the efficiency of the rivet manufacturing is the use of high-strength high nitrogen steel as rivet material because these additional process steps would not be necessary anymore. As a result of the comparatively high nitrogen content, such steels have various beneficial properties like higher strength, good ductility and improved corrosion resistance. By cold bulk forming of high nitrogen steels high-strength parts can be manufactured due to the strengthening which is caused by the high strain hardening. However, high tool loads thereby have to be expected and are a major challenge during the production process. Consequently, there is a need for appropriate forming strategies. This paper presents key aspects concerning the process design for the manufacturing of semi-tubular self-piercing rivets made of high-strength steel. The aim is to produce the rivets in several forming stages without intermediate heat treatment between the single stages. Due to the high strain hardening of the material, a two stage forming concept will be investigated. Cup-backward extrusion is chosen as the first process step in order to form the rivet shank without forming the rivet foot. Thus, the strain hardening effects in the area of the rivet foot are minimized and the tool loads during the following process step can be reduced. During the second and final forming stage the detailed geometry of the rivet foot and the rivet head is formed. In this context, the effect of different variations, for example concerning the final geometry of the rivet foot, on the tool load is investigated using multistage numerical analysis. Furthermore, the influence of the process temperature on occurring stresses is analysed. Based on the results of the investigations, an adequate forming strategy and a tool concept for the manufacturing of semi-tubular self-piercing rivets made of high-strength steel are presented.}}, editor = {{Kuball, Clara-Maria and Uhe, Benedikt and Meschut, Gerson and Merklein, Marion}}, keywords = {{high nitrogen steel, self-piercing riveting, joining by forming, bulk forming, tool design}}, pages = {{280--285}}, title = {{{Process design for the forming of semi-tubular self-piercing rivets made of high nitrogen steel}}}, doi = {{10.1016/j.promfg.2020.08.052}}, volume = {{50}}, year = {{2020}}, } @article{19973, abstract = {{As a result of lightweight design, increased use is being made of high-strength steel and aluminium in car bodies. Self-piercing riveting is an established technique for joining these materials. The dissimilar properties of the two materials have led to a number of different rivet geometries in the past. Each rivet geometry fulfils the requirements of the materials within a limited range. In the present investigation, an improved rivet geometry is developed, which permits the reliable joining of two material combinations that could only be joined by two different rivet geometries up until now. Material combination 1 consists of high-strength steel on both sides, while material combination 2 comprises aluminium on the punch side and high-strength steel on the die side. The material flow and the stress and strain conditions prevailing during the joining process are analysed by means of numerical simulation. The rivet geometry is then improved step-by-step on the basis of this analysis. Finally, the improved rivet geometry is manufactured and the findings of the investigation are verified in experimental joining tests.}}, author = {{Uhe, Benedikt and Kuball, Clara-Maria and Merklein, Marion and Meschut, Gerson}}, journal = {{Production Engineering}}, keywords = {{Self-piercing riveting, Joining technology, Rivet geometry, Multi-material design, High-strength steel, Aluminium}}, pages = {{417--423}}, title = {{{Improvement of a rivet geometry for the self-piercing riveting of high-strength steel and multi-material joints}}}, doi = {{10.1007/s11740-020-00973-w}}, volume = {{14}}, year = {{2020}}, } @proceedings{19974, abstract = {{Due to the trend towards lightweight design in car body development mechanical joining technologies become increasingly important. These techniques allow for the joining of dissimilar materials and thus enable multi-material design, while thermic joining methods reach their limits. Semi-tubular self-piercing riveting is an important mechanical joining technology. The rivet production, however, is costly and time-consuming, as the process consists of several process steps including the heat treatment and coating of the rivets in order to achieve an adequate strength and corrosion resistance. The use of high nitrogen steel as rivet material leads to the possibility of reducing process steps and hence increasing the efficiency of the process. However, the high tool loads being expected due to the high strain hardening of the material are a major challenge during the rivet production. Thus, there is a need for appropriate forming strategies, such as the manufacturing of the rivets at elevated temperatures. Prior investigations led to the conclusion that forming already at 200 °C results in a distinct reduction of the yield strength. To create a deeper understanding of the forming behaviour of high nitrogen steel at elevated temperatures, compression tests were conducted in a temperature range between room temperature and 200 °C. The determined true stress – true strain curves are the basis for the further process and tool design of the rivet production. Another key factor for the rivet manufacturing at elevated temperatures is the influence of the process temperature on the tribological conditions. For this reason, ring compression tests at room temperature and 200 °C are carried out. The friction factors are determined on the basis of calibration curves resulting from the numerical analysis of the ring compression process. The investigations indicate that the friction factor at 200 °C is significantly higher compared to room temperature. This essential fact has to be taken into account for the process and tool design for the rivet production using high nitrogen steel.}}, editor = {{Kuball, Clara-Maria and Jung, R and Uhe, Benedikt and Meschut, Gerson and Merklein, Marion}}, keywords = {{High nitrogen steel, Self-piercing riveting, Joining by forming, Bulk forming, Strain hardening}}, title = {{{Influence of the process temperature on the forming behaviour and the friction during bulk forming of high nitrogen steel}}}, doi = {{10.1016/j.jajp.2020.100023}}, volume = {{1}}, year = {{2020}}, }