TCC Blind Riveting Process Simulation 2011-01-1231

Automotive multi-plate TCC designs require torque flow to be established from the cover to the lock-up clutch piston plate. Drive plates are used as intermediate components where the lock-up clutch piston cannot be directly connected to the cover through leaf springs. It was necessary to develop a blind riveting technology which makes it possible to attach the piston plate directly to the cover. The blind riveting force may induce detrimental stress in the piston plate and the detrimental stress may have significant impact on the piston plate durability life. By deflecting the piston or the cover during the blind riveting process, the typical rivet head element rest inclined against the support surface during the riveting operation, creating undesirable rivet fill conditions and non-robust rivet joint. The riveting issue can be solved by providing a mechanism to properly rest the rivet to the support surface. This blind riveting force can also cause loss of thickness through the piston plate to the friction paper because the friction paper is used as pivot point. It may have significant impact on the friction paper durability life. This paper describes the development of the finite element based simulation technology for predicting the blind riveting effects on the piston plate durability life, the rivet joint durability, and the friction paper durability life.