Multi-scale structuring for thermoplastic-metal contour joints of hollow profiles

In contrast to common and classical joining technologies for composite/metal hybrid structures such as bonding and riveting, profile and contour joints offer a promising potential for novel lightweight hybrid structures. Contour joints with form locking elements on multiple scale levels enable to pass very high loads into rod- and tube-shaped fibre reinforced structures and promise high degrees of material utilization for the composite part. This paper demonstrates the advantage of multi-scale structured load introduction elements. First the intrinsic manufacturing process, whereas the thermoplastic tape braided preform is simultaneously consolidated and formed into the metallic load introduction element is shown. Numerical investigations on the macro- and generic microscale demonstrate the potential to trigger cohesive or adhesive failure by appropriate designed form locking elements. The extensive experimental investigation of meso-, macro- or combined-structured tubular specimen shows the beneficial effect of multi-scale structuring to increase the joining strength. Concluding advises for the contour joints’ design are given.