Simulation-Based Evaluation of Joining Methods of Engineering Plastic Materials
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The reliability of joints in plastic assemblies depends strongly on the interaction between material behavior, joining technique, and loading conditions. In this study, Engineering components made from PMMA and PC-ABS were joined using two different methods: laser welding and adhesive joining. The objective is not a full comparative evaluation, but rather to understand the joint formation mechanisms and assess their mechanical response under typical service-level loading. This study primarily focuses on numerical simulation. However, experimental validation and fatigue behaviour analysis are recognised as scope for future research. Numerical simulations were carried out in LS-DYNA R12, where thermal and mechanical coupling were used to model the laser-welded interface, while a cohesive-zone approach represented the adhesive bond line. These models were used to predict pull strength and shear strength, capturing stress distribution, damage initiation, and failure progression for each joint type.
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