Why Old Steel Bridges Are Covered in Metal Dots #hotriveting #science #facts - Video

Those small metal dots on old steel bridges are hot rivets. Before welding became common, engineers used this technique to permanently join massive steel plates. Each rivet was heated to around 1,000°C, inserted into the steel, and hammered into shape. As the rivet cooled, it contracted, clamping the steel plates together with tremendous force. Millions of these rivets helped old bridges withstand decades of heavy trains, traffic, and constant vibration.
#hotriveting #science #facts