The project “Production technologies for hybrid suction designs - Bonding of micro-perforated sheets for hybrid laminar flow control suction panels” focusses on a novel method to adhesively bond the outer perforated skin to the inner core-structure of an extended hybrid laminar flow control suction panel. The applications of the adhesive before the drilling of the microholes is the novelty of this investigation. Furthermore, the applied drilling technology will be electron beam drilling, which has not been investigated for larger area production and provides additional advantages such as high control of inner microhole morphology and size. The project will be an important step for the applied production technology of hybrid suction panels.
The main aim of this this project is to provide a production technology for hybrid suction designs based on adhesive bonding. Therefore several sub-objectives are necessary. One of the most significant disadvantages of adhesive bonding of suction panels is the closing of the microholes in the bonding areas. To avoid this disadvantage an electron beam drilling process of already adhesive coated foils and sheets is planned and is a promising solution, which has never been reported before. To use an electron beam for drilling of adhesive coated titanium or stainless steel two development steps are necessary. First the adhesive has to be developed regarding the coating process to reduce the amount/weight of the used adhesive. Furthermore, the adhesive has to be modified to have such a high viscosity that the microholes are not closed during the drilling or bonding process. The second development objective is to advance a suitable electron beam drilling process to generate a high quality microhole morphology through both, the metal sheet or foil and the adhesive. These sub-objectives have to be achieved to develop the bonding method for hybrid suction designs.
To highlight the sustainability of such hybrid suction panels another objective of this project is to incorporate the debonding while developing the joining process concerning the adhesive but also the core structure of such a suction panel. Within SE2A an industrial applicable production technology for hybrid suction designs means an important step towards windtunnel demonstrations and applications.
Duration: 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2025
Funding body: German Research Foundation (DFG)
Link to excellence cluster SE²A: http://tu-braunschweig.de/se2a