A Study on Driving Interference-Fit Fastener Using Stress Wave

Interference-fit fasteners are used in large numbers throughout aircraft structures. Conventional installation methods are driving fasteners into aperture using pneumatic or hydraulic tooling, installation damage always occurs using these methods. This paper introduces a new method of driving interference-fit fastener using stress wave, reports on a comparison of driving quality between stress wave driving and hydraulic force driving. The experiments completed by authors indicate that stress-wave method can drive the fasteners with larger interference which conventional installation method can not implement; stress wave driving method provides high installation quality and repeatable results compared with the conventional driving method; and stress wave driving method is convenient to be used. The experiments prove that the protuberant material produced by stress wave method is less than that of conventional installation methods, this is advantaged to improve the fatigue strength of joint.