Wide spread use of sandwich structures is still inhibited by the lack of a consistent joining technology one which is easy to work with, quantifiable and not dependent on special knowledge about manufacturing processes. A mechanical technology for joining sandwiches as developed in this article shall achieve these goals. The developing process follows the design methodology according to Pahl et al. [1]. The resulting systematic approach to the problem facilitated the generation of a complete solution field. This approach led to 18 promising concepts of 783 possible original solutions. Prototypes of those concepts showed that a reliable mechanical technology for joining sandwich elements is feasible.
Pahl, G., Beitz, W., Feldhusen, J. and Grote, K.H. ( 2007). Engineering Design: A Systematic Approach, 3, Springer, London.
2.
Kempf, A. ( 2004). Entwicklung einer mechanischen Verbindungstechnik fur Sandwichwerkstoffe, PhD Dissertation, Institute for Engineering Design (ikt), RWTH Aachen University. Available at: http://darwin.bth.rwth-aachen.de/opus3/volltexte/2005/1003/
3.
Standard DIN 8593 (2003). Fertigungsverfahren Fügen, Beuth, Berlin.
4.
Feldhusen, J., Warkotsch, C. and Benders, M. ( 2008). Evaluation of Clinching and Center-punching as Mechanical Joining Processes for Sandwich Elements, In: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Sandwich Structures, Porto, Portugal.
