A 3-D finite element model for thermal analysis of laser assisted fiber placement

Laser assisted automated tape or fiber placement (LATP/LAFP) with in-situ consolidation is a promising technique for manufacturing large structures, eliminating the limitations of autoclave curing. Currently, 2-D models are mostly preferred for the thermal analysis of the process. A 3-D, transient thermal finite element model is developed to...

Investigation on the melting of the weld interface in continuous ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic composites

Continuous ultrasonic welding is a new promising high-speed joining technique for thermoplastic composites. At the moment no straightforward method exists to find an optimum welding speed to easily obtain high strength joints. However, for static ultrasonic welding a systematic approach is available. Therefore, the aim of this study is to...

Improving the quality of continuous ultrasonically welded thermoplastic composite joints by adding a consolidator to the welding setup

Continuous ultrasonic welding is a promising high-speed and energy-efficient joining technique for thermoplastic composite structures. However, in the current state-of-the-art research on the topic numerous deconsolidation voids could be identified at the welding interface, which results in a strength knock-down. The aim of this study is,...

A Study on Through-the-Thickness Heating in Continuous Ultrasonic Welding of Thermoplastic Composites

Continuous ultrasonic welding is a promising technique for joining thermoplastic composites structures together. The aim of this study was to gain further insight into what causes higher through-the-thickness heating in continuous ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic composites as compared to the static process. Thermocouples were used to measure...

Continuous ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic composites: Enhancing the weld uniformity by changing the energy director

Continuous ultrasonic welding is a high-speed joining method for thermoplastic composites. Currently, a thin film energy director is used to focus the heat generation at the interface. However, areas of intact energy director remain in the welded seam, which significantly lowers the weld strength, and result in a non-uniformly welded seam. To...

On differences and similarities between static and continuous ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic composites

Continuous ultrasonic welding is a promising high-speed and energy-efficient joining method for thermoplastic composite structures. Our aim was to identify and understand differences between the static and continuous ultrasonic welding process for thermoplastic composites. In particular, melting of the interface, consumed power and energy...