Rivets versus welds?
At one time steamship hulls were formed from riveted plates, as were automobile bodies. Both have evolved to welded joins. In contrast, aircraft -- from the Ford Trimotor to modern jets -- seem to continue to use rivets to join fuselage members. Given that welds have become so sophisticated -- and corrosion or weak spots at rivet holes remain a problem (see JAL loss of aft pressure bulkhead), why haven't welds replaced rivets on planes? Is it just because aluminum is so much harder to weld than ferrous metals? Or another reason?