Print Email Facebook Twitter Sequential ultrasonic spot welding of thermoplastic composites Title Sequential ultrasonic spot welding of thermoplastic composites: An experimental study on the welding process and the mechanical behaviour of (multi-)spot welded joints Author Zhao, T. (TU Delft Structural Integrity & Composites) Contributor Benedictus, R. (promotor) Villegas, I.F. (copromotor) Degree granting institution Delft University of Technology Date 2018-05-14 Abstract The popularity of thermoplastic composites (TPCs) has been growing steadily in the last decades in the aircraft industry. This is not only because of their excellent material properties, but also owing to their fast and cost-effective manufacturing process. Fusion bonding, or welding, is a typical joining method for TPCs due to the intrinsic properties of thermoplastic polymers. Among different welding technologies, ultrasonic welding has been regarded as one of the most promising techniques for the assembly of TPC components. Ultrasonic welding is by nature a spot welding technique. As it is known that a series of problems result from using mechanical fasteners for joining composite structures, e.g. breaking fibres during drilling and extensive labour work, ultrasonic spot welding can be considered as a promising alternative from the perspective of fast manufacturing cycle. However, fundamental understanding is still lacking to achieve application of ultrasonic spot welding in composite structures to be achieved: Subject Thermoplastic compositesUltrasonic spot weldingMechanical behaviourFractographic analysis To reference this document use: https://doi.org/10.4233/uuid:b4f772b3-c9ea-4760-b68e-a8c85fd099b6 ISBN 978-94-6295-916-3 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type doctoral thesis Rights © 2018 T. Zhao Files PDF PhD_Thesis_Tian_Zhao.pdf 68.18 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:b4f772b3-c9ea-4760-b68e-a8c85fd099b6/datastream/OBJ/view