Punch rivet and method for producing a punch-riveted joint

A method for producing a punch-riveted joint between a first workpiece and a second workpiece, the second workpiece made of a high-strength material with a strength of at least 600 MPa and a thickness where joined of at least 0.5 mm, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• arranging the workpieces so that one of either the first workpiece or the second workpiece is an upper workpiece;
• providing a punch rivet comprising:
• a head;
• a hollow shank extending axially from the head with a shank internal diameter (D3), a shank external diameter (D1), a radial shank wall thickness (M5), an axial shank end face distal from the head, and a ring cutting edge located on the shank end face, and the ring cutting edge defines a cutting edge diameter (D4) which is smaller than the shank external diameter (D1) and greater than the shank internal diameter (D3), and the ring cutting edge is radially spaced by at least 20% of the radial shank wall thickness (M5) both from the shank external diameter (D1) and from the shank internal diameter (D3), and wherein the ring cutting edge defines a cutting ring surface width (M3) which is smaller than 10% of the radial shank wall thickness (M5);
• a ratio (D3/D1) of shank internal diameter (D3) to shank external diameter (D1) is smaller than 0.6;
• and
• the ring cutting edge merges into the shank internal diameter (D3) by a profile which defines a cutting radius (R2) and a ratio (R2/D1) of cutting radius (R2) to shank external diameter (D1) is smaller than 0.3;
• and
• carrying out a punch riveting operation, wherein the upper workpiece is pierced.

A punch rivet for joining two workpieces, the punch rivet comprising:

• a head;
• a hollow shank extending axially from the head with a shank internal diameter (D3), a shank external diameter (D1), a radial shank wall thickness (M5), an axial shank end face distal from the head, and a ring cutting edge located on the shank end face, and the ring cutting edge defines a cutting edge diameter (D4) which is smaller than the shank external diameter (D1) and greater than the shank internal diameter (D3), and the ring cutting edge is radially spaced by at least 20% of the radial shank wall thickness (M5) both from the shank external diameter (D1) and from the shank internal diameter (D3), and wherein the ring cutting edge defines a cutting ring surface width (M3) which is smaller than 10% of the radial shank wall thickness (M5);
• a ratio (D3/D1) of shank internal diameter (D3) to shank external diameter (D1) is smaller than 0.6;
• and
• the ring cutting edge merges into the shank external diameter (D1) by a shank external bevel which defines at least one of a bevel angle (α1) smaller than 40° with reference to a radial plane, and an axial external bevel height (M4) smaller than or equal to 0.3 mm.