A process for producing a polymeric stiffened sheet-like component, for example a panel, for aircraft construction. Production includes integration of hollow stiffening profiles, for example closed omega stringers, onto a sheet-like component, for example an external skin, where the stringers and external skin are produced from thermoplastic composite material. The stringers are integrated onto the external skin by establishing contact between the stringers and the external skin and melting thermoplastic composite material with exposure to heat and pressure at the areas of contact between external skin and stringers. Melting of the other sections of the stringers is avoided with a pressurized cooling fluid with a temperature significantly below the melting point of thermoplastic composite material, the fluid flowing through the airtight enclosed space in the stringers. Use of closed airtight thermoplastic omega stringers allows integration of the stringers onto the external skin in absence of any flexible tube within the stringers.

Disclosed is a method of resistance welding between composite articles. A conductive element is provided between faying surfaces, having a plurality of lower resistivity electrode portions spaced apart along the length of the contact area between the composite articles. The electrode portions can be used to spot weld across the electrode portions, and along a longitudinal portion of the conductive element between the electrode portions by application of an electrical current. Also disclosed are apparatus for use in the resistance welding methods and composite articles and structures and elements incorporating the conductive element.

A method for manufacturing a blade shell part of a wind turbine blade includes providing a mould for manufacturing a blade shell part of the wind turbine blade. The mould has a first moulding side with a first moulding surface that defines an outer shape of the blade shell part. The method comprises providing a blade shell part on the first moulding surface and providing a support element and attaching the support element to a fastening section of the blade shell part. Attaching the support element includes applying adhesive between the support element and the fastening part. The method also includes providing an air heating assembly having a cover extending in a longitudinal direction between a first cover end and a second cover end and extending in a transverse direction between a primary cover end and a secondary cover end, the cover defining a cavity.

The invention relates to a method for checking, prior to welding, two components made of polymer material, the method comprising a step of determining respective values relating to the roughness of the components, a step of determining respective values relating to the cleanliness of the components, a step of determining respective values relating to the temperature of the components and automated means for halting progression to a subsequent method step should the predetermined conditions not be met.

The invention relates to a device (1) for measuring the surface condition of a component (4, 5, 6). Said device (1) comprises a measurement member (2) comprising at least one sensor (21, 22, 23) capable of measuring at least one datum relating to the surface condition of the component (4, 5, 6) and at least one transmitter (24) capable of transmitting the datum from the sensor (21, 22, 23). The measurement device (1) also comprises a support (3) for the measurement member (2), the support comprising means for connecting same to the component (4, 5, 6).

A method of anchoring a connector in a first object, wherein the first object is a lightweight building element having a first outer building layer and an interlining layer, and wherein the connector includes thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method includes: bringing a coupling surface portion of the connector into contact with an attachment location of the first outer building layer; displacing a portion of the first outer building layer at the attachment location with respect to the interlining layer by applying a first pressing force to the first outer building layer and thereby piercing the first outer building layer; applying a second pressing force to the connector and transferring energy to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material has liquefied and flown to interpenetrate structures of the interlining layer; and stopping the energy transfer and allowing the flow portion to re-solidify.

An attachment part for connecting to a structural part. The attachment part has an attachment part longitudinal axis, and a weld portion to be welded to the structural part by torsional ultrasonic welding. The weld portion has a contact surface for contact with a torsion sonotrode, and a weld surface for connecting to the structural part. The weld portion is delimited, at least portionally, by an inner vibration decoupling zone. The inner vibration decoupling zone, at least portionally, surrounds an inner portion of the attachment part.

Provided herein is a spar cap having a profile for guiding and receiving a shear web for wind turbine blade. Particularly, the present disclosure provides a pultruded spar cap having a bond gap feature to maintain a uniform space for distribution of bonding paste between the spar cap and shear web. Also, the spar cap is formed with locating features which guide and receive placement of the shear web.

A joining system includes a holding fixture assembly configured to hold a fuselage skin. The stringers are temporarily attached to the fuselage skin. The joining system includes an upper beam assembly including an upper beam and a lower beam assembly. The lower beam assembly includes a lower beam and at least one lower heating element. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the upper beam assembly. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the lower beam assembly. The upper beam is movable relative to the lower beam to clamp the at least one of the plurality of stringers and the fuselage skin together prior to and during welding.

A system for laser processing includes a plate assembly having a first plate, a second plate secured to the first plate, and a pressure chamber located between the plates, a connector extending into and in fluid communication with the pressure chamber, and a fixture having a first end attached to the second plate of the plate assembly, a second end having surface having at least one opening and shaped to fit a part to be retained and laser processed, and a conduit extending therethrough in fluid communication with the pressure chamber and the at least one opening. During use, a pressure generated by a pump may be communicated to the conduit of the fixture through the pressure chamber to provide pressure (e.g., a suction effect) at the opening(s) to secure the part in place, e.g., with respect to another part, so they can be laser processed.