ClinchRivet as an alternative method to resistance spot welding

Various materials are used in car body production which are not always possible to join by conventional joining methods such as resistance spot welding. Therefore ClinchRivet method seem to be possible alternative. The paper deals with evaluation of properties of the joints made by mechanical joining method – ClinchRivet. The joint is made with the using of a special rivet, which is pushed into the joined materials by the flat punch. Following materials were used for joining of this method: DX51D+Z and H220PD steel sheets. The ten-sile test for observing the carrying capacities and metallographicall analysis were used for the evaluation of joint properties. Some results of the tests of ClinchRivet joints were compared to the properties of the joints made by resistance spot welding.