Abstract
To analyze both joinability of various materials using self-piercing riveting (SPR) and strength of this kind of joints, full experimental and numerical procedure was introduced. It includes numerical investigation based on FEM analysis of riveting process, loading of already formed joint, experiments of SPR joining and the joint loading. The capability of proposed method by verification of selected cases is evaluated. Force progress during joint forming and joint loading in a standard shear test is the main comparison criteria between FEM simulations and experiments. Commercial software based on FEM: MSC.Marc and MSC.SuperForm are employed. Recently designed tool system and dies are used in experimental tests.