An ultrasonic welding system is provided. The ultrasonic welding system includes a support structure for supporting a workpiece. The ultrasonic welding system also includes a weld head assembly including an ultrasonic converter carrying a sonotrode. The ultrasonic welding system also includes a z-axis motion system carrying the weld head assembly. The z-axis motion system includes (i) a z-axis forcer for moving the weld head assembly along a z-axis of the ultrasonic welding system, and (ii) a z-axis overtravel mechanism disposed between the z-axis forcer and the weld head assembly.

A flat plate heat exchanger module for use in aerospace applications, automotive applications, industrial applications or similar. The flat plate heat exchanger module comprises a stack of heat exchanger plates, where at least one of the heat exchanger plates further comprises at least one elongated aperture extending across the surface of the heat exchanger plate. This elongated aperture is in fluid isolation from the fluid flowing across the surface of the heat exchanger plate. The use of at least one elongated aperture throughout the stack of heat exchanger plates minimises the overall effect of the expansion and contraction of the metal due to exposure to high temperature gradients. A method of manufacturing such a heat exchanger module is also provided.

A method of constructing a plate fin heat exchanger includes joining a first side bar formed from a nickel-iron alloy to a first end of a fin element formed from a nickel-iron alloy through a first nickel-iron alloy bond, and joining a second side bar formed from a nickel-iron alloy to a second end of the fin element through a second nickel-iron alloy bond to create a first layer of the plate fin heat exchanger. The fin element defines a fluid passage.

A method of constructing a plate fin heat exchanger includes joining a first side bar formed from a nickel-iron alloy to a first end of a fin element formed from a nickel-iron alloy through a first nickel-iron alloy bond, and joining a second side bar formed from a nickel-iron alloy to a second end of the fin element through a second nickel-iron alloy bond to create a first layer of the plate fin heat exchanger. The fin element defines a fluid passage.

Provided are ceramic cutting methods and equipment: a beam irradiation unit for irradiating a beam of a wavelength absorbed by a pattern formed on an upper surface of a ceramic and partially absorbed by the ceramic; a coolant spraying unit for spraying a coolant onto the ceramic irradiated with the beam, wherein the pattern is removed by heating and cooling the ceramic , and is cut by reducing thermal damage by using the stress caused by the recrystallization of an upper layer or all of the ceramic or the stress generated by the thermal expansion and contraction of the upper layer or the entire ceramic, thereby recrystallizing the ceramic by heating and cooling the ceramic , or cutting the ceramic by heating until the ceramic melts, and cooling to apply thermal stress to the inside of the ceramic, followed by an additional separation process of a ceramic material without loss.

In a method for producing a rail-shaped hybrid component, in particular for an aircraft or spacecraft, a second rail component made of a titanium material is positioned on a first bar of a first profile rail that is made of a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic material and moved in an advancing direction, in a fixed position relative to the first profile rail, such that a bar portion of the first bar is arranged between a first connecting portion of the second rail component and a second connecting portion of the second rail component, and the second rail component is cohesively connected to the first profile rail. Furthermore, the hybrid component has a first profile rail made of a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic material and a second rail component made of a titanium material.

A nuclear reactor fuel rod is a fuel rod for a light-water reactor. The nuclear reactor fuel rod includes a fuel cladding tube and an end plug, both of which are formed of a silicon carbide material. A bonding portion between the fuel cladding tube and the end plug is formed by brazing with a predetermined metal bonding material interposed, and/or by diffusion bonding. The predetermined metal bonding material has a solidus temperature of 1200° C. or higher. An outer surface of the bonding portion, and a portion of an outer surface of the fuel cladding tube and the end plug, which is adjacent to the outer surface of the bonding portion are covered by bonding-portion coating formed of a predetermined coating metal. The predetermined metal bonding material and the predetermined coating metal have an average linear expansion coefficient which is less than 10 ppm/K.

Provided is a joining method that can prevent a plastic flowing material from flowing out from a butt section and that can reduce the thickness and weight of metal members. The joining method is for joining a first metal member and a second metal member by using a rotary tool comprising a stirring pin, and is characterized in that: the stirring pin comprises a flat surface perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotary tool and comprises a protruding section protruding from the flat face; and in a friction stirring step, the flat surface is brought into contact with the first metal member and the second metal member, and a front end face of the protruding section is inserted deeper than an upper overlapping section to join an upper front butt section and the upper overlapping section.

A method for joining materials such as metal alloys that includes a first component, wherein the first component includes a first alloy having a known austenization temperature below which martensite forms when the component is heated and then cooled at a predetermined rate of cooling; a second component, wherein the second component includes a second alloy; and a welding apparatus operative to create a weld between the first and second components without crossing the austenization temperature of the first alloy. The method also includes the steps of validating the characteristics of the weld created between the first and second components in real-time during the welding process; modifying the welding apparatus to prepare the surface of the first component prior to welding to assure proper alignment of the first and second components; and/or physically modifying the second component to enhance the welding characteristics and durability thereof.

An apparatus for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components includes a pressurization arrangement for jointly covering, at least in a region of a joining zone, thermoplastic fiber composite components to be joined and applying pressure to the thermoplastic fiber composite components to press the thermoplastic fiber composite components against one another, at least in the joining zone, the pressurization arrangement being flexible, at least in some section or sections. A welding device is configured for welding the fiber composite components in the joining zone during pressurization. The pressurization arrangement and welding device are configured to weld the thermoplastic fiber composite components in a pressurized state in the joining zone. The pressurization arrangement is configured to maintain pressurization independently of the welding device until the joining zone solidifies. A cover is also disclosed for a pressurization device for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components.