Design recommendations for Howick Rivet Connectors in cold-formed steel connections

This study develops a validated finite element (FE) model for T-stub connections with Howick Rivet Connectors (HRCs) and carries out a systematic parametric analysis considering variations in rivet diameter, plate thickness, and steel grade. Using numerical simulations together with previously published experimental data, the accuracy of existing bearing and shear strength formulas is evaluated, revealing substantial discrepancies when these formulas are applied to a wider dataset. To address these limitations, new strength formulas are proposed and validated through reliability analysis, achieving an average test/FEA-to-predicted ratio of 1.04 and correctly identifying failure modes in 91% of cases. Compared with existing design formulas, the proposed equations reduce prediction bias by approximately 18% and decrease strength dispersion by about 5%, demonstrating notable improvements in both accuracy and reliability. Based on the combined numerical and experimental findings, design recommendations are provided to support the practical use of HRC connections in cold-formed steel structures. • This paper presents an accurate FE model for T-stub connections with HRC. • New bearing and shear coefficients were proposed to more accurately predict the ultimate strength of HRC connections. • Several key design recommendations are provided for engineers and future researchers.