Process for non-destructive quality control inspection of self-piercing rivet (SPR) joints

A system for inspecting an assembly including at least a first component and a second component joined by a rivet, the system comprising:

• a source of x-rays and an x-ray detector,
• the source of x-rays emitting the x-rays toward a portion of the assembly which includes the rivet at an energy level of at least 200 kV,
• wherein the system generates x-ray images of the portion of the assembly which includes the rivet and combines the x-ray images to form a combined image,
• the system identifies a minimum thickness of the assembly based on the combined image, and the minimum thickness is a distance between a bottom end of the rivet and a lowermost exterior surface of a second component.

A system for inspecting an assembly including at least a first component and a second component joined by a rivet, the system comprising:

• a source of x-rays and an x-ray detector,
• the source of x-rays emitting the x-rays toward a portion of the assembly which includes the rivet at an energy level of at least 200 kV,
• wherein the system generates x-ray images of the portion of the assembly which includes the rivet and combines the x-ray images to form a combined image, wherein the rivet includes a head and a base, the head rests on a top surface of a first component, and the base extends through the first component and through a portion of a second component;
• and the system identifies an interlock present in the assembly based on the combined image, the interlock being a radial distance between a top end of the base and an outermost portion of the base of the rivet.