The MS20426 and NAS1097 rivet

The MS20426 is the most used rivet in the aircraft, all aircraft surface uses this rivets. The MS20426 is a countersunk rivet, with the head forming a 100 angle penetration. This rivet is used in all aerodynamic surfaces of the aircraft or in areas where contact surfaces are required. If you look to the aircraft fuselage and wing, this is the rivet that you will find. The definition of the Part number of the rivet is the same that of the MS20470, see the Post of this rivet to check how to define rivet part number.The 20426 define: the geometry, the AD letter: the material, the number: the diameter, and the number after the dash: the length, rivet part number MS20426AD4-5.

One of the most important aspects of this rivet is the critical plate thickness allowed to install the MS20426 countersunk rivet.The head of the rivet will be at concordance with the face of the plate, the head will be inside the material/plate thickness. If we are connecting two plates, one of the plates will receive the rivet head. The problems is when the two plates receive the rivet head, at this point the rivet will suffer a phenomena called knife effect. Where the top plate will have a sharp edge cutting the rivet head. for this reason there are minimum plate thickness to be used with the MS20426 rivet. The reference is that the head of the rivet must be inside 66% of the plate thickness, the rest of the plate must be in normal cylindrical bearing load. To avoid knife effect in the rivet head you must always design to 66% of thickness.The aircraft manufacturer specify this requirement in the structural repair manual, generally in a table where you can find all countersunk hardware: rivets, bolts, hi-loks diameter and the minimum plate thickness permitted to use. For example for MS20426AD4 rivet minimum thickness is 0,05 inches, MS20426AD5 minimum is 0,063inches, etc...

If the plate thickness is lower that the one specified please never use MS20426 rivet, because knife effect will cut the rivet head, and cause failure of the joint, very dangerous if we are talking about fuselage panel or wing panels. If knife effect is present, use the other countersunk rivet with a reduced head height, the NAS1097. This rivet is a 100 angle countersunk head but with reduced head height. This means that the minimum plate thickness approved to be installed is inferior than that of the MS20426 rivet. The two rivets with the same diameter, the MS20426 is authorized to be installed in a 0,05 inches plate and the NAS1097 is authorized to be installed in a 0,032 inches plate. If you need a higher rivet diameter but the plate thickness do not allow the installation, use the NAS1097. Do not use rivets in tension applications, rivets are used for pure shear applications. With a smaller head the NAS1097 will fail at lower tension loads than MS20426 rivet.

Other particularity of this rivets is that the rivet allowable is determined always by test. you must test the rivet in a joint and determine the failure strength of the assembly.The head is inside the plate, and will contribute to the load transfer of the rivet. In this case the load will be inferior that if we have all the cylindrical body inside the plate, as the MS20470 rivet. For that reason all countersunk fasteners: rivets, bolts, hi-loks must be tested to check the knife effect load, bearing load and shear load of the rivet. See table to check the failure loads of the rivets.

Remember, be careful with the plate

thickness when installing the MS20426 rivet. Use NAS1097 when MS20426 can no longer be used because of knife effect. Replace them when you are performing a new structural design. Don't use NAS1097 to replace MS20426 in the existing hole, the head height is diferent and the NAS rivet will not fit correctly in the MS countersunk hole.