What is the most commonly used rivet material?

The most commonly used rivet material in aircraft construction is AD 2117. This alloy is popular due to its excellent combination of strength, corrosion resistance, and workability. AD 2117 is an aluminum alloy that is heat-treatable and has high fatigue strength, making it particularly suitable for the dynamic loads experienced in aviation.

This alloy's properties make it ideal for the aviation industry, where weight savings are critical without compromising structural integrity. It is used extensively in aircraft structures that require rivets to be lightweight yet strong, providing a balance that is hard to achieve with other materials.

Although other materials like 6061-T6 aluminum and 7075 aluminum are also used in aircraft manufacturing, they serve different purposes and are not as widely utilized for rivets specifically. Hardened steel, while providing high strength, is less common for rivets used in aluminum structures due to its susceptibility to corrosion and the difficulty in achieving the necessary joining characteristics in aluminum assemblies.