Novel Repair Concept for Composite Materials by Repetitive Geometrical Interlock Elements

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Composite Materials

Background:

• Current repair methods for thermosetting matrix composites are labor-intensive and complex.
• Achieving uniform material and geometric properties in repaired zones is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel composite interlock repair concept for fiber-reinforced polymers.
• To systematically develop and analyze the interlock repair technology's material and geometric influences.

Main Methods:

• Development of a composite interlock repair concept utilizing undercuts prepared via water-jet technology.
• Numerical and experimental sensitivity analyses to evaluate material and geometrical factors.

Main Results:

• The novel interlock repair concept demonstrates reproducible repair capabilities.
• The method allows for uniform distribution of material and geometric parameters in the repair zone.
• Sensitivity analyses provide insights into optimizing the repair technology.

Conclusions:

• The proposed composite interlock repair concept offers a reproducible and automatable solution for thermosetting matrix composites.
• Water-jet technology is effective for preparing the necessary undercuts for the interlock mechanism.
• This advancement reduces the significant efforts typically required for composite repair.