A polymeric structure includes a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component, the first polymeric component including a first mating surface and an opposing first free surface and the second polymeric component including a second mating surface and an opposing second free surface. The first polymeric component and the second polymeric component are positioned with the first mating surface facing the second mating surface. A charge of molten polymer is disposed between the first mating surface and the second mating surface. A compressive force is applied to the first free surface of the first polymeric component and to the second free surface of the second polymeric component in order to secure the first polymeric component to the second polymeric component in order to form the polymeric structure. The polymeric structure may be a construction mat.

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.

The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for establishing a connection having material continuity or having material continuity and shaping matching or for separating such a connection of at least one metal or ceramic component and of a component formed from or by a thermoplastic polymer in which the components to be joined together can be pressed together by a pressing device having a counterholder and a plunger. A heating device is present at the plunger and/or at the counterholder or acts there. A heating of the at least one metal or ceramic component up to above the softening temperature of the component formed from or by polymer can be achieved with the heating device, with the heating device being having at least one electrical resistance heating element that is covered by an electrically insulating, preferably ceramic, protective film, and/or having at least one laser beam that is directed to the metal component(s) within the joining region, and/or having at least one inductor present at the plunger and/or at the counterholder for the inductive heating of the meal component(s).

A preheating arrangement includes a preheating device defining a first plane by a first centerline along a first axis and a second centerline along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. A first preheating structure is asymmetric with respect to the first and/or the second centerline. A second preheating structure is oriented like the first preheating structure such that, when viewed along a third axis perpendicular to the first plane, the preheating structures are arranged one above the other. A first actuator rotates the preheating device between first and second positions and the preheating structures in the first position have a first orientation and in the second position a second orientation rotated around the axis of asymmetry by 180° or in which they are rotated by an angle α in the range of 0°<α<360°, or 90°≤α≤270° or α=180° around the third axis compared to the first orientation.

The invention relates to a process (100) for manufacturing an object (1) made of thermoplastic polymer composite from at least two parts (10) made of thermoplastic polymer composite, said thermoplastic polymer composite comprising a fibrous reinforcement and a thermoplastic polymer matrix, said process comprising the steps of: arranging (120) the two parts (10) made of thermoplastic polymer composite adjacently or overlapping at an assembly interface zone (11), and heating (130) to melt the thermoplastic polymer matrix at said assembly interface zone (11), so as to form an object (1) made of thermoplastic polymer composite comprising a welded interface (12).

Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for two or more cured composite assemblies that are bonded together to form a tubular composite structure, wherein each of the cured composite assemblies do not have a tubular shape. The tubular composite structure may form a spar for an aerodynamic component, for example. The two or more cured composite assemblies may comprise carbon or fiberglass composite materials or a combination of materials. Each of the cured composite assemblies may further comprise axial edges that are configured to be bonded to another of the cured composite assemblies, wherein the axial edges have a sloped shape. An adhesive agent may be applied on the axial edges for bonding two cured composite assemblies. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more fasteners may be used to attach the axial edges of at least two cured composite assemblies.

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.

The present invention relates to a wind turbine blade and a method for its manufacture. A lower shell part and an upper shell part are provided, each shell part having a leading edge and a trailing edge. A first shear web and a second shear web for connecting an inner surface of the lower shell part with an inner surface of the upper shell part are provided. The first shear web and the second shear web are connected by a first distance member in a chordwise direction. The first distance member is arranged for accommodating a variable chordwise distance between said first shear web and said second shear web. The first shear web and the second shear web are placed in the lower shell part and the upper shell part is mounted.

A method of making a wind turbine blade (10) having a shear web (20, 22) bonded between first and second half shells (16, 18) is described. The method involves providing a web locator (40) on an inner surface of a half shell. The web locator has a fixed portion (42) and a spring portion (44) extending from the fixed portion. The spring portion is moveable relative to the fixed portion between compressed and relaxed states.