Which of the following is NOT a consideration for determining minimum rivet spacing?

Determining the minimum rivet spacing is crucial for ensuring the structural integrity and performance of the joint in sheet metal structures. Various factors come into play when making this assessment.

Material thickness is fundamental because thicker materials generally require greater spacing to allow for adequate load distribution and to avoid issues like tearing or shearing of the material. Load distribution significantly affects how forces are transferred through the rivets, necessitating specific spacing to ensure that stresses are evenly managed within the joint. Rivet diameter plays a key role as well; larger rivets might need more space to prevent localized stresses that could lead to material failure.

Rivet length, however, does not directly influence the minimum spacing between rivets. While the length of the rivet is important for ensuring that it adequately binds the materials together and achieves the necessary grip, it does not change the required spacing itself. Instead, the spacing is dictated primarily by the dimensions and properties of the materials being joined and the loads they will encounter. Thus, it is the factor that does not correlate with the determination of minimum rivet spacing.