Riveting practice – terminology: Rivets that are heated and driven on site (not in the fabrication shop) are commonly called what?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: field rivets

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Before high-strength bolting largely replaced riveting, structural connections were frequently made with hot-driven rivets. Understanding the terminology distinguishing shop versus field operations is useful for interpreting older drawings and specifications.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Rivets heated and driven at the construction site.
  • Shop operations (in a controlled fabrication facility) contrasted with field operations (on site).


Concept / Approach:
Hot-driven rivets installed on site are typically termed field rivets. If driven with pneumatic hammers in the shop, they are power-driven shop rivets. Cold-driven rivets are unheated and used for small-diameter, light-duty work only, not typical for structural frames.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify location of installation: on site.Apply standard nomenclature: “field rivets.”Recognize power-driven field rivets is also descriptive, but the simplest accepted term is field rivets.


Verification / Alternative check:
Historic steel construction texts and specifications consistently differentiate “shop” and “field” rivets by installation location rather than by the driving method alone.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Power-driven shop rivets: performed in fabrication shop, not on site.
  • Hand-driven and cold-driven: do not specifically indicate field hot work typical of structural frames.


Common Pitfalls:

  • Confusing driving method (hand vs. pneumatic) with installation location (shop vs. field).


Final Answer:
field rivets

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