Rivet Pull-Out Calculator
Will the rivet hold in tension — or pull through? Compares the rivet’s own tensile strength against the sheet pulling over the head, takes the weaker of the two, and checks it against your load with a pass / fail verdict.
Will a Rivet Hold in Tension?
Pull on a riveted joint along the axis of the rivet and one of two things gives way: the rivet itself snaps in tension, or its head drags a plug of the thin sheet out and pulls through. The joint is only as strong as the weaker of those two, so a sound check works both out and takes the smaller.
The first is the rivet’s tensile strength across its shank area. The second is the sheet shearing on a cylinder the size of the head as it is pulled through — which is why a thin sheet or a small head fails long before a strong rivet does.
Rivet Tension vs Sheet Pull-Through
In thick, strong plate the rivet usually governs — it will break before the head pulls through. In thin sheet metal the opposite is true: the head tears out a plug well below the rivet’s own strength. Larger heads (or backing washers) spread the bearing and raise the pull-through capacity, which is exactly what flanged and large-flange blind rivets are for.
Why Rivets Prefer Shear
Rivets are happiest loaded in shear, across the joint, not pulled apart along their axis. Tension loads — especially on blind rivets — are far less predictable and are usually kept low or avoided. If a joint sees real tension, design it conservatively and lean on manufacturer pull-out data rather than a rule of thumb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is rivet pull-out?
A tension failure where the rivet head pulls through the sheet, dragging out a plug of material. It is common in thin sheet with small-head rivets.
How do I increase pull-through strength?
Use a larger head or a backing washer, a thicker or stronger sheet, or a flanged blind rivet designed for soft and thin materials.
Can rivets carry tension at all?
Some, but it is not their strong suit. Design riveted joints for shear where possible and keep tension low, using tested values for anything critical.
Which governs, the rivet or the sheet?
The weaker capacity. Thick strong plate tends to let the rivet govern; thin sheet lets pull-through govern. This tool reports both and the smaller.
Related calculators
- Rivet Shear Strength Calculator — the load case rivets are built for.
- Rivet Edge Distance Calculator — tear-out toward the edge.
- Rivet Spacing Calculator — pitch and rivet count for the seam.