The research cooperation HP CFK - "High-performance production of CFRP structures" - brings together scientists from the Institute for Polymer Materials and Plastics Technology (PuK) in Clausthal, the Institute for Aircraft Construction and Lightweight Construction (IFL) in Braunschweig and the Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Machine Tools (IFW) from the PZH of Leibniz Universität Hannover at the location in Stade. The team was honored for its development of the Multilayer Insert, a force transfer element for thin-walled high-performance CFC structures.
The engineers succeeded in integrating the simultaneous layer-by-layer laminate and insert structure into existing automated fibre placement processes by replacing fibre layers locally with metal inserts of the same thickness. In comparison to conventional technologies, the local hybrid binding point leads to a minimal deflection of the fibres and thus to a reduction of the interference.
This makes it possible to design pure metal areas in fiber composite structures that transfer loads via thrust in all layers of the laminate. The load-optimised structure, which is suitable for fibre- and lightweight construction, leads to a significant increase in the load-carrying capacity of the carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and to a weight saving compared with technologies available on the market. The application of force can then be carried out, for example, via screw or welded connections and thus permits the detachable joining of metallic and fibre-reinforced plastic-based components, for example.
The basic work for the new process was carried out within the framework of the Priority Program 1712 - Intrinsic Hybrid Compounds for Lightweight Structures, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
