Geförderte OA-Publikationen

Notch flexure hinges are often used as revolute joints in high-precise compliant mechanisms, but their contour-dependent deformation and motion behaviour is currently difficult to predict. This paper presents general design equations for the calculation of the rotational stiffness, maximal angular elastic deflection and rotational precision of various notch flexure hinges in dependence of the geometric hinge parameters. The novel equations are obtained on the basis of a non-linear analytical model for a moment and a transverse force loaded beam with a variable contour height. Four flexure hinge contours are investigated, the semi-circular, the corner-filleted, the elliptical, and the recently introduced bi-quadratic polynomial contour. Depending on the contour, the error of the calculated results is in the range of less than 2 % to less than 16 % for the suggested parameter range compared with the analytical solution. Finite elements method (FEM) and experimental results correlate well with the predictions based on the comparatively simple and concise design equations.

Laser-based joining of thermoplastics to metals shows a great potential for functional design especially in terms of lightweight constructions. In the joining process, the joining speed and the energy per unit length, respectively, show an influence on time-temperature profiles measured in the joining zone. The time-temperature profile affects the joining zone and consequently the joint behavior in mechanical testing. In the current investigation, the joining zone was characterized by the melting layer. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the joint by tensile shear testing and the fracture mode were investigated. Based on the results obtained, three sets of joining speeds/energies per unit length with different mechanical behaviors were selected for further investigations under varied ambient conditions. Thereby, the influence of outdoor weathering as well as aging above the glass transition temperature of the plastic part on the joints performance was compared with the nonaged joints.