Developing a numerical modelling strategy for metallic pin pressing processes in fibre reinforced thermoplastics to investigate fibre rearrangement mechanisms during joining

A numerical modelling strategy for the direct pin pressing process of metallic pins into continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastic organosheets is developed. The joining process is performed above the thermoplast’s melting temperature, altering the initial material structure of the composite by fibre rearrangement, which in turn influences the load-bearing capacity of the joint. Therefore, the modelling strategy aims at predicting the resultant material structure after pin pressing. The modelling approach considers both the textile architecture and the process parameters (temperature, tool velocity). A sub-meso modelling framework for the fibres based on a multi-filament approach is used. The interaction between fibres and the thermoplastic melt, as well as the matrix flow, is modelled using the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian method. This allows for the prediction of matrix-rich zones and fibre rearrangement around the pin. The promising results show a good agreement of the resultant material structure in terms of compaction and fibre volume content around the pressed pin. Characteristic parameters show an underestimation of the laminate thickness below the pin. Moreover, an evaluation method for evaluating the orientation changes of the virtual multi-filaments is developed and presented to observe and assess fibre rearrangement and fibre volume content in detail during the numerical process simulation. It can be seen that only fibres around the pin are displaced and not in the whole molten area. Furthermore, it can be observed in detail that the initial position of the fibres in relation to the pin determines whether the fibres are displaced in the in-plane or out-of-plane direction.