The news of the first domestic large aircraft C919 being delivered to an airline has led to increasing public attention to the aircraft.So, how was such a massive metal creation born? How does it provide us with a safe and comfortable sailing experience? I believe everyone will be curious

The news of the first domestic large aircraft C919 being delivered to an airline has led to increasing public attention to the aircraft.

So, how was such a massive metal creation born? How does it provide us with a safe and comfortable sailing experience? I believe everyone will be curious. Today, let's talk about how the massive fuselage of an airplane is spliced together.

How did the massive fuselage fit together?

Aircraft, as the pearl of human industrial civilization, represents proof of human civilization's conquest of nature. With over a hundred years of development, it has gradually entered our lives.

Rivets, a common object in industrial design and construction, play a crucial role in the aircraft manufacturing process. Do you know?The splicing of the aircraft fuselage unexpectedly used millions of rivets.

During the assembly process of the aircraft, these inconspicuous small rivets are used to connect and reinforce different components and structures of the fuselage, ensuring the integrity and reliability of the entire aircraft. They require careful design, manufacturing, and installation, and have very important functions that can effectively connect and fix various aircraft structural components, including wings, tail wings, and the front, middle, and rear sections of the fuselage.

Some applications of rivets in aircraft structures. Source: Author

Due to the fact that aircraft need to withstand significant forces such as wind pressure, gravity, and inertial forces during flight. Therefore,The connections between aircraft structural components must be very sturdy and reliable.

Rivets are a very suitable connection method for aircraft manufacturing, as they can withstand a large amount of tensile and shear forces and maintain stability under different temperature and humidity conditions.In addition, rivets also have smaller space requirements and can be connected without affecting the appearance and aerodynamic performance of the aircraft.

Although the use of a large number of rivets may increase manufacturing and maintenance costs, they can improve the reliability and safety of the aircraft and ensure integrity in extreme situations. Therefore, rivets are still an irreplaceable connection method in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance.

How do rivets fit together the fuselage?

Generally speaking, the structural components of an aircraft are composed of various metal materials, including aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, stainless steel, etc. Rivets pass through two or more structural components and are pulled together by the impact force between the rivet head and tail on the other side, forming a sturdy connection. The connection process requires a rivet gun or other specialized tools.

Aircraft structural components are usually composed of prefabricated components, which have already been drilled with rivet holes. During the assembly process, the installer inserts the rivet into the rivet hole and supports the rivet head part. Then, use a rivet gun to apply force to the nail tail, bending it to firmly connect it to the structural components.

Rivets are usually made of materials that are the same or similar to the structural components to be connected, to ensure stability under different temperature and humidity conditions and provide maximum connection strength.

We can briefly understand the application of rivets made of different materials in the aircraft manufacturing process:

Aluminum alloy rivets:Aluminum alloy rivets are one of the most commonly used rivets because they are similar to many aircraft structural components. They are usually used to connect aluminum alloy structural components, as aluminum alloy rivets have similar corrosion properties to aluminum alloys and can provide maximum connection strength in high humidity environments of aircraft.

Aluminum alloy body skin and its rivets. Source: Taken by the author

Titanium alloy rivets:Titanium alloy rivets are also one of the commonly used rivets. Titanium alloy rivets are stronger, more corrosion-resistant, and can be used at higher temperatures than aluminum alloy rivets. Due to the high price of titanium alloys, titanium alloy rivets are usually used to connect titanium alloy structural components that require higher strength and corrosion resistance.

How to install rivets?

After discussing the types of rivets, I believe everyone is also curious about how to install these rivets.

The most commonly used construction method in aircraft manufacturing is mechanical riveting technology. Hot riveting and cold riveting are both types of mechanical riveting technology, and their main difference lies in the temperature of the rivet during riveting.

Hot riveting refers to the process of riveting when the nail is in a high-temperature state, usually between 200 and 500 degrees Celsius.During the hot riveting process, the nails are first heated by a furnace or other heating equipment to a high temperature, and then inserted between two materials that need to be connected. After the nails cool down, the riveting is completed. Hot riveting is suitable for connecting high-strength materials, such as titanium alloys.

Cold riveting refers to the process of riveting when the nails are at room temperature.In the process of cold riveting, the rivet is pressed between two materials that need to be connected by hammering or mechanical pressure to complete the riveting. Cold riveting is suitable for connecting low strength materials, such as aluminum alloys.

Overall,Hot riveting is suitable for connecting high-strength materials, while cold riveting is suitable for connecting low-strength materials.The selection of riveting technology needs to be determined based on specific materials, structures, and requirements.

Why is welding not used in aircraft manufacturing?

In the well-known mechanical connection methods, welding is also very common. Why not use welding instead of riveting in aircraft manufacturing? This starts with the difference between the two. Riveting and welding are two different methods of connecting materials, and their differences are mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Different connection methodsRiveting is the process of connecting materials through rivets, while welding involves melting the materials and allowing them to solidify again. Riveting only creates a hole at the connection, while welding involves fusing two or more materials together.

Different degrees of material damageRiveting can complete the connection without causing excessive damage to the material, as rivets can be pressed into the material without heating. In contrast, welding requires high temperatures to melt the material, which can cause certain damage to the material.

Different connection strengthsWelding usually achieves higher connection strength because it can form a uniform connection in the material. However, in some cases, riveting can achieve the same connection strength.

Now everyone must have gained a better understanding of this small rivet. Aircraft manufacturing is not just a feat in a day. It was through countless predecessors constantly groping in the dark that they came to their present appearance. Small rivets thread together the aircraft body like needles, and the path inside is also unique.

Similarly, technology will not remain stagnant, and we look forward to future technological advancements bringing greater progress to our country's aircraft manufacturing industry.

Author: Zheng Yin, Ground Engineer; Wang Yixi, Science Teacher at the Exhibition and Education Center of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

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