K. Johnson, L. A. Schwope, J. Sheridan, Solidica, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI
Light weight titanium – aluminum laminate structures fabricated via Ultrasonic Consolidation (UC) offer promise as a weight reduction strategy to improve the endurance or payload capacity of manned and unmanned vehicles. UC is an additive manufacturing technology that allows complex laminate geometries to be fabricated at low cost and high speed, and optionally supports enhanced ballistic protection, embedded structural fibers, and embedded sensors. Laminate properties can be varied during the building process. Layered composites with gradient functional properties can enhance structural performance, reduce weight, enhance constructional freedom, and consolidate parts. Certain parameters (such as sonotrode texture and weld speed) of the UC process can be modified to produce a significant strengthening effect in the material localized at each interface region. The strengthening effect is driven primarily from a significant ultrasonically induced sub-grain refinement phenomenon that is unique to solid state ultrasonic welding methods.
Summary: Light weight titanium – aluminum laminate structures fabricated via Ultrasonic Consolidation offer promise as a weight reduction strategy to improve the endurance or payload capacity of manned and unmanned vehicles. This presentation will highlight Solidica’s recent experience in developing and testing these laminates.
