AdiosRivet - Advanced design of welded joints for TP-CFRPC reinforced vehicle structures

Since range is one of the decisive criteria for the acceptance of new mobility concepts, efficient lightweight design is a key technology in this structural change. Optimum lightweight design can only be achieved if material, design, and production lightweight design are adressed. Welding or respectively fusion bonding can be regarded as the key technology for joining TP-CFRPs. Compared with conventional joining methods, such as bolting or riveting, welding can reduce the overall weight of the assembly as a result of the mechanical joining elements saved (e.g. 9 wt.% saving in the case of an aircraft spoiler). Due to the more homogeneous stress distribution, the joined parts can also be designed thinner, resulting in additional material or weight savings. In addition to the lightweight design aspect, the welding of TP-CFRP structures instead of conventional joining results in immense efficiency advantages (e.g. for an aircraft spoiler flap, a reduction in assembly costs and time of 40% each). However, the welding of TP-CFRP structures has so far only been feasible to a limited extent. In the field of design-based lightweight design, there is a lack of mature design guidelines for such welded TP-CFRP joints. This is the main objective of the project.