Riveted joint failure modes in machine design: which of the following is NOT a failure mode of the RIVETS themselves (as opposed to the plate) in a riveted lap/butt joint used on boilers, tanks, or structural connections?

Introduction / Context:
Riveted joints are classic permanent fastenings used in boilers, pressure vessels, bridges, and sheet-metal structures. Understanding how these joints can fail is essential for sizing rivet diameter, pitch, and the number of rows. This question asks which failure mode is NOT a failure of the rivet itself, clarifying terminology often confused by beginners.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Conventional hot- or cold-driven solid rivets in lap or butt joints.
• Plates and rivets are ductile metals (e.g., mild steel).
• Static loading in tension along the joint line is considered.

Concept / Approach:

The common failure modes for riveted joints include: (1) shearing of the rivet shank; (2) bearing (crushing) of the rivet or the plate around the hole; and (3) tearing of the plate across a line of rivet holes (net section failure). Of these, only the first two are failures of the rivet itself. Tearing across a row refers to the plate, not the rivet. The term “tearing of the rivet” is not a recognized basic mode; rivets do not “tear” like a plate’s net section—rather, they shear or crush.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Design formulas compare joint strength in rivet shear, rivet/plate bearing, and plate tearing at the net section. No code or text uses “tearing of rivet” as a fundamental mode.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Shearing and crushing are standard rivet failures. “Tearing of the plate across a row” is a valid but plate-side failure. “None of these” is incorrect because one option (tearing) is indeed not a rivet failure mode.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing plate tearing with rivet failure; overlooking bearing (crushing) when holes are too large or pitch is small.

Final Answer:

tearing