In the research project presented in this paper, the effects of welding width, pressure force, power, and speed of ultrasonic welding parameters on hydrostatic pressure resistance were examined. A flexible and lightweight PVC-coated hybrid textile material with uniform thickness was used for weather protection purposes. Three main welding parameters at three different levels were selected based on the preliminary test results involving welding widths of 6 and 12 mm. A lapped type of seam was applied for ultrasonic welding and conventional joining techniques. A conventionally sewn zigzag seam was produced using three main factors at two different levels according to the application area. To avoid seam permeability, the conventional seam was sealed with tape by means of hot-air tape welding and subsequently investigated regarding its hydrostatic pressure resistance. The hydrostatic pressure resistance value of the conventional seam was then compared with ultrasonic weld seams of 6 and 12 mm welding width, and its parametric influence on the quality of the seam was analyzed. The result shows that the ultrasonic weld seam with a 12 mm welding width provided a higher hydrostatic pressure resistance than the 6 mm welding width and the conventionally sewn seam. Statistical analyses were also carried out to prove the significant effect of welding process parameters on hydrostatic pressure resistance, whereby the obtained results were statistically significant. A suitable nonlinear numerical model was also developed to predict the hydrostatic pressure resistance.

The authors prepared crosslinkable toughened polypropylene to be used for simultaneous spinning of hybrid yarn and the preparation of continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites by filament winding to be consolidated by compression molding. A subsequent electron treatment aims on crosslinking of matrix as well as enhancement of interfacial adhesion in the interphase of glass fiberreinforced polypropylene composites. The authors evaluate the crosslinking behavior as well as the tensile properties of crosslinkable toughened polypropylene. Finally, the authors use transverse tensile test and single fiber pull-out test in order to study the effect of matrix modification and electron treatment on continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites as well as on single glass fiber polypropylene model microcomposites.

When fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) components are designed, it is very important to ensure that textiles are formed into complex 3D geometries without folds, and that the reinforcing structure is oriented appropriately. Most research in this context is focused on finite element (FE) forming simulations and the required characterization of textile reinforcements. However, the early stage of the design of FRPs, where kinematic draping simulations are used, is barely considered. In particular, the need for a critical shear angle for the execution and evaluation of kinematic draping simulations is often neglected. This paper presents an extended picture frame test stand with an optical device recording shear-induced deformations with the help of a laser line emitter. Associated hardware and software for detecting and quantifying the fold formation during a picture frame test were developed. With the additional recorded information, a material-specific critical shear angle can be determined, material behaviors can be compared, and FE-based simulation methods can be evaluated. This innovative test stand and the associated software tools will help engineers to decide on suitable materials and improve transparency in the early stages of the design process.

Using a lapped seam, PVC-coated hybrid textiles with uniform thickness were bonded by continuous ultrasonic welding and conventional joining method with the help of hot air tape welding technique for weather protection purposes. Three fundamental sewing parameters at two distinct levels and three primary welding parameters at three levels based on 6 and 12 mm welding widths were used. To consider the effect of welding and sewing parameters on seam strength, full factorial designs of experiments were designed, fabricated, and tested. The thermal behavior and possibility of chemical conversion in the welding zone under the influence of ultrasonic vibrations were examined. Variation in width of heat-affected zone of weld seam was measured. The seam strength of ultrasonic weld seam compared with that of conventional seams, and superior seam strength yielding parametric levels were assessed. The parametric influence of both joining techniques on seam quality and their tendencies in the relationship were analyzed statistically. The weld seam strength (1256.392 and 2116.93 N/50 mm) was optimized numerically and identified its trend with the variation of the weld seam. The discovered relationship led to the conclusion that the variation in the weld seam can be used to estimate the tensile strength of the weld seam through the developed effective numerical model as a non-destructive testing method, and its outcome was successful as a destructive testing method. The result shows that the ultrasonic weld seam provided a higher tensile strength ( > 75%) than the conventional seam for both evaluated welding widths and obtained statistically significant results.

Ultrasonic welding is a universal, clean, and secure alternative joining method. Alternative joining technologies are used increasingly to fulfill specific functional requirements of the seam, such as fluid impermeability to achieve positive bonding during the assembly of technical textiles. In this research, the effect of important ultrasonic welding parameters on peel strength and weld seam thickness was investigated for flexible and lightweight textile material, which is a valuable innovative hybrid textile for technical applications like architectural, construction, and protective textiles. Three main welding parameters with three different levels were selected based on the preliminary test results of 6 and 12 mm welding widths, and a superimposed type of seam was applied. Light scanning microscopic images were used to examine the effective weld locations and their morphology at the joining interface. The parametric influence of ultrasonic welding technique on-seam quality and their tendencies in the relationship were analyzed. Optimized peel strength yielding parametric levels were also assessed numerically. The result shows that the optimal peel strength value was obtained at a welding speed of 2.318 m/min, power of 119.382 W, and pressure force of 349.729 N for a 12 mm welding width. The weld seam thickness had an inverse relationship with the peel strength, and a higher amount of thickness was reduced to 12 mm welding width than 6 mm. Microscopic cross-sectional image of weld seam indicated that a compressed yarn between the coating material at higher welding power and pressure force in lower welding speed. A nonlinear quadratic numerical model was developed to predict the peel strength, and their results were close to the regressed diagonal line against the actual points. The statistical analysis was carried out to show the significant effect of process parameters on peel strength, whereby the obtained results were statistically significant.