Thermal analysis of the heating area of a thermoplastic welding unit under space environment

Abstract

The development of space travel continuously requires new ideas and innovations in order to further advance the exploration and colonisation of distant celestial bodies. For this reason, numerous research agencies have been working on space manufacturing for years. One idea to realise manufacturing in space is the application of thermoplastic welding of Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) cross-sections.This thesis investigates the extent to which the demonstrator of the Automated Manufacturing of Composite Structures in Space (AMoCSiS) project can apply and efficiently dissipate the required joining temperature for the manufacture of a CFRP tube produced by thermoplastic welding.. Numerical simulations are used to determine the temperaturecourses. The required geometries are first constructed as a CAD (computer-aided design) model and then calculated using a finite element model simulation programme. The resulting temperature-course provides information on how the temperature behaves within the component. Taking into account the results of the performed thermal analysis, new concepts of the joining area are developed and also evaluated. The calculated values should provide information about the influence of the geometry of the heating area on the temperature distribution. Likewise, further concepts for optimised heat dissipation will be presented and evaluated. In addition, the use of other suitable materials for thermal insulation will be investigated. The various results will then be compared and contrasted in order to make a statement about the occurring heat supply and heat dissipation.