In steel connection design, if the rivets in adjacent rows are staggered and the outermost row contains only a single rivet, what is this rivet arrangement called?

Introduction / Context:
In structural steelwork and plate fabrication, rivet (or bolt) arrangements control how forces are transferred and how cracks or tears propagate. Knowing standard patterns such as chain, zig-zag, and diamond riveting is essential for safe detailing and for interpreting drawings in civil and mechanical engineering.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Adjacent rows are staggered.
• The outermost row has only a single rivet at the end.
• Arrangement name is required from standard terminology.

Concept / Approach:
Common patterns are:• Chain riveting: rivets in adjacent rows line up vertically.• Zig-zag riveting: rivets in adjacent rows are staggered but each row contains a similar count across the width.• Diamond riveting: staggered pattern that tapers, reducing the number of rivets toward the edge so that the outermost row has only one rivet, creating a diamond-like outline.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify staggered rows → rules out chain riveting.Check if edge rows keep same count as inner rows → if not, zig-zag alone is insufficient.Tapered count with a single rivet in the outermost row matches the characteristic diamond profile → diamond riveting.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard steel design texts illustrate diamond riveting where rivet density is greatest at the member centerline and reduces toward edges, culminating in a single rivet at the outermost row.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Chain riveting: requires rows to be in straight alignment, not staggered.
• Zig-zag riveting: staggered, but typically without the terminal single-rivet taper.
• None of these: incorrect because 'diamond riveting' exactly fits the described geometry.

Common Pitfalls:

• Confusing generic stagger (zig-zag) with the tapered end condition unique to diamond patterns.
• Assuming any stagger equals zig-zag without checking edge row counts.

Final Answer:
diamond riveting