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- Title
Induction Welded Thermoplastic Overhang Panel.
- Authors
Labordus, M.; Jongbloed, A.; Boerwinkel, S.
- Abstract
The use of thermoplastic composites in the aerospace industry is steadily growing. With the use of new processing techniques, part production and assembly time and costs can be reduced significantly. With the KVE Induction welding technology carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) parts can be welded together without the use of foreign material at the interface of the laminates, within short cycle times. This technology has a significant mechanical and cost advantage, as is shown for instance by the application of the KVE Induction welding technology by Fokker Aerostructures for the assembly of elevators and rudders for the Gulfstream G650 and the Dassault 5X, or by Aviacomp for the assembly of the fuel tank access covers for the Bombardier C-series aircraft. This paper describes the development of an induction welded thermoplastic lower left-hand vertical fin overhang panel for the Gulfstream G650. Overhang and access panels are traditionally made from milled aluminum or thermoset composites. Both concepts have labour intensive production methods and, in the case of the thermoset panels, the production is hard to industrialise. The CFRTP welded panel redesign has the same outer dimensions as the original panel. With the use FE-models, the best structural layout was chosen. Parts were produced and subsequently welded into the final overhang panel. A 14% weight reduction and a 20% cost reduction was achieved.
- Subjects
THERMOPLASTIC composites; WELDING; WELDED joints; LAMINATED materials; STRUCTURAL panels
- Publication
SAMPE Journal, 2018, Vol 54, Issue 3, p6
- ISSN
0091-1062
- Publication type
Article