Riveted

Riveted is the past participle of rivet, and also an adjective describing a joint made with rivets. A rivet is a permanent fastener consisting of a short metal shaft with a head on one end; during installation, the tail is deformed to form a second head, locking the pieces together.

Riveting is performed with solid rivets or blind rivets (pop rivets). Solid rivets require access to both sides of the work and are bucked or hammered to form the second head. Blind rivets are installed from one side and deploy a mandrel to create the second head behind the material, enabling fastening where the opposite side is inaccessible.

Common materials include steel, aluminum, copper, and titanium, chosen for strength and weight. Riveted joints are used in construction, aerospace, shipbuilding, and automotive applications, especially where inspection, fatigue resistance, or disassembly is needed. While many projects have shifted to welding or bolting, rivets remain standard in aircraft primary structures, bridges, and historic restoration.

In addition to its technical sense, riveted can describe a state of intense attention or fascination, as in a listener being riveted by a speech or a film that rivets the audience.