Numerical and experimental investigation of electromagnetic riveting

An electromagnetic field model, in which the electric circuit and magnetic circuit are coupled, is established by finite element analysis software ANSYS/Multiphysics. The magnitude and distribution of magnetic force is obtained through the coupling model. Based upon the magnetic force from the coupling model, a deformation analysis model is performed by ANSYS/LS-DYNA. The simulations indicate that the driver is mainly subjected to axial magnetic force and the distribution is non-uniform along its radial direction; the deformation process of rivet consists of the whole free upsetting and the local free upsetting. The experimental results show that grain elongation is present but no crack is found in the shear zone of the rivet head. For composite joining, the lamination and decohesion are not observed and the expansion of the rivet shaft is uniform. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.