What forms the rivet tails during installation?

Master the Aerospace Materials, Processes and Hardware Test. Practice with questions and answers, flashcards, and explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your certification exam!

During the installation of rivets, rivet tails are formed through the application of force that reshapes the rivet material. This process involves a combination of two tools: the rivet gun and the bucking bar. The rivet gun provides rapid hammering action that compresses the rivet into the pre-drilled holes in the materials being joined. Meanwhile, the bucking bar is used on the opposite side of the rivet to provide resistance and support, preventing it from deforming in an uncontrolled manner.

When the rivet gun strikes the rivet, it compresses the material at the tail end of the rivet, causing it to expand and form a "tail" which securely locks the rivet in place, creating a strong mechanical joint. This two-tool interaction is essential, as the rivet gun alone cannot effectively form the tail without the stabilization provided by the bucking bar. Thus, the combination of the two tools—the pneumatic rivet gun and the bucking bar—is critical in achieving the correct installation and forming properly shaped rivet tails that ensure structural integrity.

Using the bucking bar independently would not achieve the necessary deformation of the rivet tail since it requires the force and motion from the gun to initiate the installation process.

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