Continuous Fibre-reinforced Thermoplastics Research Articles

Joining of CFRT/Steel Hybrid Parts via Direct Pressing of Cold Formed Non-Rotational Symmetric Pin Structures

In this study, quasi-unidirectional continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTs) are joined with metal sheets via cold formed cylindrical, elliptical and polygonal pin structures which are directly pressed into the CFRT component after local infrared heating. In comparison to already available studies, the unique novelty is the use of non-rotational symmetric pin structures for the CFRT/metal hybrid joining. Thus, a variation in the fiber orientation in the CFRT component as well as a variation in the non-rotational symmetric pins’ orientation in relation to the sample orientation is conducted. The created samples are consequently mechanically tested via single lap shear experiments in a quasi-static state. Finally, the failure behavior of the single lap shear samples is investigated with the help of microscopic images and detailed photographs. In the single lap shear tests, it could be shown that non-rotational symmetric pin structures lead to an increase in maximum testing forces of up to 74% when compared to cylindrical pins. However, when normalized to the pin foot print related joint strength, only one polygonal pin variation showed increased joint strength in comparison to cylindrical pin structures. The investigation of the failure behavior showed two distinct failure modes. The first failure mode was failure of the CFRT component due to an exceedance of the maximum bearing strength of the pin-hole leading to significant damage in the CFRT component. The second failure mode was pin-deflection due to the applied testing load and a subsequent pin extraction from the CFRT component resulting in significantly less visible damage in the CFRT component. Generally, CFRT failure is more likely with a fiber orientation of 0° in relation to the load direction while pin extraction typically occurs with a fiber orientation of 90°. It is assumed that for future investigations, pin structures with an undercutting shape that creates an interlocking joint could counteract the tendency for pin-extraction and consequently lead to increased maximum joint strengths.

A review on stamp forming of continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastics

Continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (FRTPs) are replacing metals in certain applications in the aerospace industry due to their superior properties e.g., high strength-to-weight ratio and good fatigue resistance. Adopting these lightweight materials in vehicles is a solution for improving vehicle efficiency across the transport industry. Among various manufacturing techniques for FRTP parts, stamp forming is one of the most advantageous when small structures and mass production are targeted. However, a significant barrier for this technique is the quality control of manufacturing. The current paper reviews the development of stamp forming technology, benefits of using such technology and the typical quality issues in stamp forming of FRTP parts. First, advantages of stamp forming, compared to other thermoforming techniques, are discussed, followed by a review of the historical development of the process. Second, deformation mechanisms of FRTPs during stamp forming are examined, with particular focuses on the frictional behaviour and testing thereof. Third, the main defects associated with stamp forming are considered, alongside suggestions towards reducing their presence. Finally, an extensive survey of the effect of process parameters on the mechanical properties of formed parts is included, with generally expected trends highlighted and methodologies for finding optimum conditions presented. Based on the thorough review of state-of-the-art stamp forming, future trends and research gaps to be tackled for widening the applicability of FRTP stamp forming are suggested.

Identification of Representative Equivalent Volumes on the Microstructure of 3D-Printed Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics Based on Statistical Characterization.

The present work describes a methodology to compute equivalent volumes representing the microstructure of 3D-printed continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, based on a statistical characterization of the fiber distribution. In contrast to recent work, the methodology herein presented determines the statistically equivalent fiber distribution directly from cross-section micrographs, instead of generating random fiber arrangements. For this purpose, several regions, with different sizes and from different locations, are cropped from main cross-section micrographs and different spatial descriptor functions are adopted to characterize the microstructures in terms of agglomeration and periodicity of the fibers. Detailed information about the adopted spatial descriptors and the algorithm implemented to identify the fiber distribution, as well as to define the location of cropped regions, are given. From the obtained statistical characterization results, the minimum size of the equivalent volume required to be representative of the fiber distribution, which is found in the cross-section micrographs of 3D-printed composite materials, is presented. To support the findings, as well as to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology, the homogenized properties are also computed using representative equivalent volumes obtained in the statistical characterization and the results are compared to those experimentally measured, which are available in the literature.

A Facile Molding Method of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites and Its Mechanical Property.

The mechanical properties of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (C-FRTP) composites are commonly lower than those of continuous fiber-reinforced thermosetting plastic (C-FRP) composites. We have developed a new molding method for C-FRTP. In this study, pre-impregnated materials were successfully prepared by polymer solution impregnation method and, finally, C-FRTP was fabricated. The viscosity of the thermoplastic matrix was decreased to approximately 3dPa×s, the same level of epoxy, and the fiber volume fraction was increased from approximately 45 to 60%. The cross-section of specimens were polished by an ion milling system and impregnation condition was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The micrographs suggested that thermoplastic polymer was impregnated to every corner of the fiber, and no void was found on the cross-section. It revealed that void-free composites with perfect mechanical properties can be manufactured with this new molding method. All specimens were submitted to a mechanical measuring equipment, and the mechanical properties of the composite specimens were investigated. Mechanical analysis revealed that tensile property and flexural property of C-FRTP were enhanced up to the same level with C-FRP.

A DMA-Based Approach to Quality Evaluation of Digitally Manufactured Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Composites from Thermoplastic Commingled Tow

Direct digital manufacturing of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics exhibits the potential to relieve many of the constraints placed on the current design and manufacture of composite structures. At present, the additive manufacturing of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics is demonstrated to varying extents; however, a comprehensive investigation of manufacturing defects and the quality of additively manufactured high fiber volume fraction continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites is limited. Considering the preliminary nature of the additive manufacturing of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, composites processed in this manner are typically subject to various manufacturing defects, including excessive void content in the thermoplastic matrix. Generally, quality evaluation of processed composites in the literature is limited to test methods that are largely influenced by the properties of the continuous fiber reinforcement, and as such, defects in the thermoplastic matrix are usually less impactful on the results and are often overlooked. Hardware to facilitate the direct digital manufacturing of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic matrix composites was developed, and specimens were successfully processed with intentionally varied void content. The quality of the additively manufactured specimens was then evaluated in terms of the measured maximum storage modulus, maximum loss modulus, damping factor and the glass transition temperature by means of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). DMA allows for thermomechanical (i.e., highly matrix sensitive) evaluation of the composite specimens, specifically in terms of the measured elastic storage modulus, viscous loss modulus, damping factor and the glass transition temperature. Within the tested range of void contents from roughly 4–10%, evaluation by DMA resulted in a distinct reduction in the maximum measured storage modulus, maximum loss modulus and glass transition temperature with increasing void content, while the damping factor increased. Thus, the results of this work, which focused on the effect of void content on DMA measured properties, have demonstrated that DMA exhibits multi-faceted sensitivity to the presence of voids in the additively manufactured continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic specimens.

Effect of plasma treatment parameters on the interfacial joining strength of overmolded hybrid fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites

AbstractIn this study, hybrid fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (hybrid thermoplastic composites) with high interfacial joining strength were fabricated using a plasma treatment strategy and injection overmolding technique. A series of experimental investigations were carried out to ascertain the effects of various plasma treatments on the interfacial joining strength of the overmolded hybrid composites. Test results reveal that compared with the untreated continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRT) substrates, the surface roughness of the CFRT substrates treated by plasma with air for the 10 min–160 W set‐up increases by 28.7%, the contact angle decreases by 50.5%, the silicon and fluorine are effectively removed, and the content of polar functional group increases remarkably, which bring about the increase of 24.76% of the interfacial shear strength of the overmolded hybrid composites. Further increase of plasma treatment time does not contribute to increase the interfacial shear strength of the overmolded hybrid composites. The interfacial shear strength at 60 W is 6.38% higher than that at 160 W, which is ascribed to the increase of the oxygen‐containing functional group content. Compared with the air and nitrogen plasma treatment, the interfacial shear strength of the overmolded hybrid composites after oxygen plasma treatment reaches the maximum value.

Design optimization of bioinspired helicoidal CFRPP/GFRPP hybrid composites for multiple low-velocity impact loads

Low-velocity impact (LVI) on continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CoFRTPs) has been extensively studied with a focus on single material. Impact characteristics and optimal design of hybrid CoFRTPs have not been well addressed even though they are of considerable advantages in balancing cost and performance. This study aims to develop design optimization of bio-inspired hybrid CoFRTPs to resist multiple impact loads. In this study, the LVI behaviors of carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene (CFRPP) and glass fiber reinforced polypropylene (GFRPP) composites were first characterized experimentally, respectively. Three typical failure modes were identified in both the CFRPP and GFRPP specimens, and GFRPP exhibited better impact toughness than CFRPP. Second, a progressive failure model (PFM) was developed for finite element analysis, and numerical results in LVI damage modes and force-displacement curves agreed quite well with the corresponding experimental data. Third, parametric studies indicated that peak energy absorptions of CFRPP and GFRPP specimens respectively decreased by 20.9% and 25.5% with impact angles varying from 0° to 30°, and design of helicoidal stacking configuration can effectively enhance the LVI resistances for both the CFRPP and GFRPP specimens. Hybridization of CFRPP and GFRPP enables to improve LVI resistances and reduce the material costs. Finally, a multiobjective optimization was performed to optimize material cost and LVI resistance of helicoidal CFRPP/GFRPP hybrid composites accounting for multiple impact loads, which increased the peak energy absorption by 31.0% and reduced material cost by 33.4% compared with the baseline design. This study is anticipated to introduce an optimum configuration of hybrid composites for bearing multiple low-velocity impact loads.

Joining of CFRT-steel hybrid parts via hole-forming and subsequent pin caulking

In times of increasing global warming, the awareness of the necessity for significant CO2 reduction is growing. Especially in the transport and aerospace sector, lightweight construction has potential to achieve emission reduction goals by reducing the overall vehicle weight. Thereby, adding lightweight fibre-reinforced composites to materials such as steel and aluminium is used to achieve weight savings. Furthermore, continuous-fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTs) begin to replace more traditional thermoset thermoplastics due to their easier bulk production and uncomplicated storage. Hybrid parts often consist of a CFRT and a higher strength metal component. Here, the joining process poses the main challenge, due to different chemical and physical properties of the components. In the current state of the art, riveted and bolted joints are commonly used, leading to increased weight due to auxiliary elements and requiring precise bolt holes often destroying load-bearing fibres. Joining with cold formed pin structures is an innovative and versatile joining process, which avoids the need for auxiliary elements. These pins are subsequently inserted in warm formed holes in the CFRT component and then caulked to create a form-fitting hybrid joint. To obtain a fundamental understanding of this joining process, hole-forming and pin-caulking, are investigated in this study. First, the hole-forming with IR-radiation is investigated with regard to suitable process parameters and resulting fibre morphology. The formed holes are consequently mechanically characterized. Second, the caulking-process is investigated by iteratively upsetting a pin and subsequently measuring the geometry. Based on these findings two different suitable caulking degrees are defined and samples for mechanical as well as microscopic investigations are manufactured. The created joints are first investigated via micro-sections and reflected light microscopy to identify possible damage in the CFRT component, which can result from the pin caulking process. Second, a mechanical characterisation under shear load as well as pin extraction loads normal to the sample surface is conducted and the normal load tests are compared with the bearing strength of CFRT samples.

Joining of continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic/steel hybrid parts via undercutting pin structures and infrared heating

Continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRT)/steel hybrid parts offer promising properties and possibilities, which can exceed the capabilities of both individual materials. In this case, the joining operation presents the main challenge. This paper studies the direct pin pressing where metallic pins with undercutting geometries, protruding from the metal component, are inserted into a locally infrared heated CFRT component. The aim is to investigate the joining process with a focus on the filling of the undercut features with matrix and fibers to create a primarily form-fitting joint. For good mechanical properties of the joint, it is crucial, that the undercutting features are filled and do not lead to significant deconsolidations. The pin structures are manufactured from 42CrMo4 steel on a cnc-lathe and are joined via welding with HCT600+Zn sheet metal. The CFRT samples are manufactured from polypropylene and approximately 45% vol. unidirectional glass fibers. In the scope of this study, different pin geometries are joined with varying process settings and micro sections of the joints are investigated via reflected light microscopy. It could be shown that the undercuts can be completely filled with matrix and fiber material using the described process route. Based on the optical investigations a suitable setting of joining parameters is defined and lap shear as well as cross head samples are manufactured and experimentally tested. It could be seen that independently from the pin geometry the lap shear strength was primarily limited due to shear failure of the pin structures and it is assumed that the base diameter and pin strength predominantly determine the joint strength. Cross head samples failed due to pin extraction. Here, a significant increase of the joint strength with undercutting features could be shown in comparison to cylindrical reference pins.

The influence of preheating temperature on the mechanical properties of injection-overmolded hybrid glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites

Thermoplastic overmolding technique is an advanced integrated manufacturing technology to fabricate hybrid fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites (hybrid composites) components in which short fiber reinforced thermoplastics are injected onto the surface of thermoformed continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRT) laminate (organosheet). To further clarify the bonding mechanism between the heterogeneous interface of short and continuous glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites, a series of experimental tests and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were conducted to investigate the preheating temperature of organosheet on mechanical properties of hybrid composites. The experimental results reveal that the surface roughness of organosheet is increased with raising the preheating temperature, resulting in the enhancement of mechanical interlock at the bonding interface. The interface region in SEM observation is gradually disappeared due to molecule diffusion. Simulation results show that both diffusion coefficient and interfacial bonding energy are clearly improved with preheating temperature. Compared with the non-preheating condition, the flexural strength of the hybrid composite is increased by more than three times when the preheating temperature is set as 220 °C by IR heater. Moreover, the fracture mode of hybrid composites has been proven to change with the preheating temperature.

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation of Hybrid Injection Molded Short and Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites.

In-situ thermoforming and overmolding of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites by hybrid injection molding enables the mass production of thermoplastic lightweight structures with a complex geometry. In this study, the anisotropic mechanical behavior of such hybrid injection molded short and continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics and the numerical simulation of the resulting mechanical properties under flexural loading were investigated. For this, the influence of the volume flow rate between 25 and 100 cm3/s during injection molding of a PP/GF30 short fiber-reinforced overmolding material was studied and showed a strong effect on the fiber orientation but not on the fiber length, as investigated by computer tomography and fiber length analysis. Thus, the resulting anisotropies of the stiffness and strength as well as the strain hardening investigated by tensile testing were considered when the mechanical behavior of a hybrid test structure of short and continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites was predicted by numerical simulations. For this, a PP/GF60 and PP/GF30 hybrid injection molded test structure was investigated by a numerical workflow with implemented injection molding simulation data. In result, the prediction of the mechanical behavior of the hybrid test structure under flexural loading by numerical simulation was significantly improved, leading to a reduction of the deviation of the numerically predicted and experimentally measured flexural strength from 21% to 9% in comparison to the isotropic material model without the implementation of the injection molding data.

Development of a new joining technology for hybrid joints of sheet metal and continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics

Punctiform mechanical joining technologies, such as riveting, clinching, or screwing, which are widely used in sheet metal processing, are frequently applied because they have been established for many years. Depending on the process, they offer a variety of advantages such as one-sided accessibility, re-detachability, and no need for pre-punching operations or auxiliary joining elements. In addition, the processes often guarantee a high process reliability and extensive process monitoring. However, with thermoplastic composites, they lead to considerable stress concentrations at the joint due to the fibers. Undesirable fiber and inter-fiber breaks then result. With the development of the novel joining technology of joint stamp riveting, an improvement is achieved in this situation that has been described for hybrid joints on components made of thermoplastic composites and metal sheets. The joining principle is based on the formation of a form lock between the joining partners. The thermoplastic composite is thermomechanically formed by means of a joint stamp without using an auxiliary joining element. Within the scope of a research project, the joining process was characterized with regard to the structure of the joining spot, the geometry of the forming tools, and also the mechanical properties for purposes of analyzing and designing the joining process.

The mechanical performance of the 3D printed composites produced with continuous carbon fiber reinforced filaments obtained via melt impregnation

Additive manufacturing of the continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites with fused deposition modeling is an up-and-coming production method because of their exceptional mechanical properties, even though these values are still relatively low when compared with conventional thermoset products. In this respect, the additive manufacturing of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites with high mechanical properties based on PLA thermoplastic polymer was investigated in this study. At the first stage, a polymer impregnation line was designed for manufacturing pre-preg forms of the continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic filaments with different fiber fractions. Afterward, standard tensile and three-point bending test specimens were printed with the fused deposition modeling (FDM) method using these filaments. Test results showed approximately 989 MPa tensile strength for pre-preg filaments. Maximum tensile strength of 544 MPa and maximum flexural strength of 310 MPa were achieved for CFRTP specimens with a 40% fiber fraction. In addition, scanning electron microscope (SEM) inspection showed a quite homogenous impregnation in both the filaments and the printed parts. Obtained results indicate that this manufacturing method could be a promising approach for printing CFRTP parts with improved mechanical properties.

A Numerical Simulation Method for the One-Step Compression-Stamping Process of Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites.

Continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites have many advantages, such as high strength, high stiffness, shorter cycle, time and enabling the part consolidation of structural components. However, the mass production of the CFRTP parts is still challenging in industry and simulations can be used to better understand internal molding mechanisms. This paper proposes a three-dimensional simulation method for a one-step compression-stamping process which can conduct thermoplastic compression molding and continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite stamping forming in one single mold, simultaneously. To overcome the strongly coupled non-isothermal moving boundary between the polymer and the composites, arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian based Navier–Stokes equations were applied to solve the thermoplastic compression, and a fiber rotation based objective stress rate model was used to solve for the composite stamping. Meanwhile, a strongly coupled fluid structure interaction framework with dual mesh technology is proposed to address the non-isothermal moving boundary issue between the polymer and the composites. This simulation method was compared against the experimental results to verify its accuracy. The polymer flow fronts were measured at different molding stages and the error between simulation and experiment was within 3.5%. The final composites’ in-plane deformation error was less than 2.5%. The experiment shows that this work can accurately simulate the actual molding process.

Energy Direction in Ultrasonic Impregnation of Continuous Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics

As a new and innovative processing method for fabrication for fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTs), the feasibility of ultrasonic welding technology was proven in several studies. This method offers potential for the direct manufacturing of CFRT–metal structures via embedded pin structures. Despite the previous studies, a deeper understanding of the process of energy input and whether fibers work as energy directors and consequently can, in combination with chosen processing parameters, influence the consolidation quality of the CFRTs, is still unknown. Consequently, the aim of this work is to establish a deeper process understanding of the ultrasonic direct impregnation of fiber-reinforced thermoplastics with an emphasis on the fiber’s function as energy directors. Based on the generated insights, a better assessment of the feasibility of direct, hybrid part manufacturing is possible. The produced samples were primarily evaluated by optical and mechanical test methods. It is demonstrated that with higher welding time and amplitude, a better consolidation quality can be achieved and that independent of the process parameters chosen in this study, no significant fiber breakage occurs. This is interpreted as a sign of a gentle impregnation process. Furthermore, based on the examination of single roving and 5-layer set-ups, it is shown that the glass fibers function as energy directors and can influence the transformation of sonic energy into thermal energy. In comparison to industrially available CFRT material, the mechanical properties are weaker, but materials and processes offer potential for significant improvement. Based on these findings, proposals for a direct impregnation and joining process are made.

Numerical Modelling of Bond Strength in Overmoulded Thermoplastic Composites

Overmoulding of thermoplastic composites combines the steps of thermoforming and injection moulding in an integrated manufacturing process. The combination of continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastics with overmoulded polymer enables the manufacturing of highly functionally integrated structures with excellent mechanical properties. When performed as a one-shot process, an economically efficient manufacturing of geometrical complex lightweight parts within short cycle times is possible. However, a major challenge in the part and process design of overmoulded thermoplastic composites (OTC) is the assurance of sufficient bond strength between the composite and the overmoulded polymers. Within the framework of a simulation-based approach, this study aims to develop a methodology for predicting the bond strength in OTC using simulation data and a numerical model formulation of the bonding mechanisms. Therefore, a modelling approach for the determination of the bond strength depending on different process parameters is presented. In order to validate the bond strength model, specimens are manufactured with different process settings and mechanical tests are carried out. Overall, the results of the numerical computation are in good agreement with the experimentally determined bond strength. The proposed modelling approach enables the prediction of the local bond strength in OTC, considering the interface conditions and the processing history.

Development of Thermoplastic Composite Reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Panels for Impact Resistance.

In order to improve flexural and impact performance, thin panels of steel fiber-reinforced ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) were further reinforced with external layers of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites. CFRTP sheets were bonded to 305 × 305 × 12 mm UHPC panels using two different techniques. First, unidirectional E-glass fiber-reinforced tapes of polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PETG) were arranged in layers and fused to the UHPC panels through thermoforming. Second, E-glass fiber woven fabrics were placed on the panel faces and bonded by vacuum infusion with a methyl methacrylate (MAA) polymer. Specimens were cut into four 150 mm square panels for quasi-static and low-velocity impact testing in which loads were applied at the panel centers. Under quasi-static loading, both types of thermoplastic composite reinforcements led to a 150–180% increase in both peak load capacity and toughness. Impact performance was measured in terms of both residual deformation and change in specimen compliance, and CFRTP additions were reduced both by 80% to 95%, indicating an increase in damage resistance. While both reinforcement fabrication techniques provided added performance, the thermoforming method was preferable due to its simplicity and fewer specialized tool requirements.

Fatigue behaviour of material-adapted fibre-reinforced polymer/metal joints

By regarding the needs and requirements in modern multi-material joining, the Flow Drill Joining Concept (FDJ) was developed at the Chemnitz University of Technology. The technology allows an efficient and material-adapted joining of thin metal sheets with continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastics, as required in modern lightweight engineering. For a better understanding of their fatigue behaviour, single-lap FDJ joints were examined in quasi-static and dynamic tests regarding shear loads, cross tension and superimposed shear/cross tension loads. By way of example, joints between micro-alloyed steel with high yield strength for cold forming and a continuous glass/carbon fibre-reinforced polyamide 6 were investigated. The fatigue curves show inclinations between k = 8.01 (shear loads) and k = 5.17 (cross tension loads), depending on the applied load angle. The results of the fatigue testings represent a basis for the enhancement of a failure criterion for FRP/metal joints in highly stressed multi-material designs.

Analytical modelling of continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastics’ thermomechanical properties and implementation into a failure model

Mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics show a remarkable temperature dependence within application temperatures of automotive and aerospace lightweight structures. To take this dependence into account when designing components, the strengths (, , , , ) and stiffnesses (, , , , ) of continuous carbon and glass fibre-reinforced polyamide 6 and glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene are modelled analytically based on experiments. Data from temperature-controlled tests on flat samples in the range from -20 °C to +80 °C are therefore approximated using an extended hyperbolic approach. The models obtained are then evaluated based on their deviation from the experimental values. The main criterion of this evaluation is the reliable prediction of the temperature-dependent material properties while minimising the effort for generating test data and determining model parameters. Furthermore, the failure behaviour of the investigated materials under multiaxial mechanical and thermal stress is examined by implementing the determined strength curves into Cuntze’s physically based failure criterion.

Fiber Orientation Mechanism of Continuous\xa0Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics Hybrid Parts Joined with Metallic Pins

Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic (CFRT) hybrid parts offer interesting possibilities for lightweight application, which can exceed the capabilities of mono material metal or CFRT parts. In this case, the joining technology oftentimes is the limiting factor. This study investigates a joining operation with metal pin structures which are additively manufactured via powder bed fusion featuring different diameters and tip geometries, which are inserted into the locally infrared heated CFRT part. The resulting fiber rearrangement is assessed using transmitted light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy as well as micro-computer-tomography. It could be shown that for all assessed pin variants a similar distinct fiber displacement can be seen and that the pin diameter has a significant effect on the resulting fiber orientation with smaller pin diameters being advantageous because of gentle fiber displacement and reduced undulation. The tip geometry has only minor effect on the fiber orientation. Especially in the X/Y plane no systematic influence of the tip geometry on the fiber displacement could be observed. Based on the gained insights a three-stage model of the fiber orientation processes is proposed.