A system and method for welding thermoplastic components by positioning and moving a heated plate between the components to melt their respective faying surfaces, and as the plate moves, pressing the components together so that the melted faying surfaces bond together as they cool and re-solidify, thereby creating a composite structure. The plate has a heated portion which is positioned between and heated to melt a portion of the first and second faying surfaces. A manipulator mechanism moves the plate along an interface from between the portion to between a series of subsequent portions of the first and second faying surfaces, thereby welding the thermoplastic components along the entire interface to create the composite structure. An injection device may also move behind the plate and reciprocally inject a polymer between the first and second faying surfaces to provide toughness and crack arresting properties.

The method for producing an assembly is a method for producing an assembly equipped with a member to be reinforced (20), a reinforcing member body (41), and a filler (42), wherein the reinforcing member body (41) has a pair of flanges (44) arranged spaced on the surface (20B) of the member to be reinforced (20), a web (45), and a connection portion (46) which connects the flanges (44) and the web (45) and forms a filler space (V) with the surface (20B). The method for producing an assembly includes a step for inserting a filler (42) into the filler space (V), a step for attaching a crack control member (43) to cover the end of the filler (42), a step for joining the flanges (44) and the member to be reinforced (20), and a step for curing at least the member to be reinforced (20).

A system and method for welding thermoplastic components by positioning and moving a heated plate between the components to melt their respective faying surfaces, and as the plate moves, pressing the components together so that the melted faying surfaces bond together as they cool and re-solidify, thereby creating a composite structure. The plate has a heated portion which is positioned between and heated to melt a portion of the first and second faying surfaces. A manipulator mechanism moves the plate along an interface from between the portion to between a series of subsequent portions of the first and second faying surfaces, thereby welding the thermoplastic components along the entire interface to create the composite structure. The heated portion may contact the faying surfaces and melt them through conduction, or may be suspended between them and melt them through radiation and convection.

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating composite parts. One embodiment is a method for fabricating a composite part. The method includes forming a skin panel preform comprising fiber reinforced material, disposing rigid end caps at the skin panel preform at end locations of stringer preforms that will be placed at the skin panel, locating the stringer preforms at the skin panel preform via the rigid end caps, and anchoring the stringer preforms to the skin panel preform.

Systems and methods for assembling elongate composite structures are disclosed. The systems include a first rigid elongate cure tool defining a first elongate support surface for supporting a first elongate charge of composite material (FEC), a second rigid elongate cure tool defining a second elongate support surface for supporting a second elongate charge of composite material (SEC), and a flexible elongate caul plate. The systems further include a vacuum compaction film, a translation structure, and a vacuum source. Methods according to the present disclosure include positioning a vacuum compaction film, positioning a flexible elongate caul plate, and positioning an FEC. The methods further include positioning an SEC, contacting a region of the FEC with a region of the SEC, sealing the vacuum compaction film, evacuating the enclosed volume to generate an elongate composite assembly, and heating the elongate composite assembly to define the elongate composite structure.

A first thermoplastic component and a second thermoplastic component including a first joint portion and a second joint portion, respectively, are provided. A least a portion of a surface area of each of the first and second joint portions include a respective first and second mating surface. The first and second mating surfaces of the respective first and second joint portions are positioned in contact with one another. The first and second joint portions are fusion joined. Fusion joining the first and second joint portions forms a fused unitary portion of the first and second thermoplastic components.

A component part for a motor vehicle having a hollow profile portion of a fiber-reinforced plastic and a load introduction element of a metal material. The hollow profile portion and the load introduction element are connected in a common connection portion via a nondetachable, glued plug-in connection in which an end portion of the load introduction element and an end portion of the hollow profile portion engage in one another by positive engagement. The end portion of the load introduction element has a spline with teeth extending in longitudinal direction of the common connection portion so that the stiffness of the end portion of the load introduction element reduced in longitudinal direction of the common connection portion.

Composite laminate structures are produced using partially cured parts. Partial curing of the parts is achieved by applying a catalyst to regions of the parts that are to be fully cured. These regions cure at a lower-than-normal temperature while remaining regions of the part remain uncured, allowing them to be co-bonded or co-cured to other structures.

A composite sandwich panel includes a first composite part and a second composite part. A plurality of stiffeners extend between the first and second composite parts. A fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout is positioned along one or more edges of the first and second composite parts. The fiberglass composite perimeter edge closeout controls a magnetic flux to bond the first and second composite parts to the plurality of stiffeners.

A device and a method for manufacturing a rotor blade for a wind energy installation, wherein the rotor blade includes at least two rotor blade shells which are bonded together, includes a holding device arranged to hold a rotor blade shell such that at least one bonding surface on the rotor blade shell and/or on a web attached to the rotor blade shell is exposed. The bonding surface of the rotor blade shell can be bonded to a further rotor blade shell. The device further includes a robot arm arranged to apply adhesive to the at least one bonding surface, a carriage on which the robot arm is mounted, and a guide device mounted on the holding device. The carriage is mounted on the guide device so as to be movable. The guide device is arranged to guide the carriage and the robot arm along the holding device, in particular along the bonding surface.