Project Partners
During the previous research activities, BWI has gained knowledge about and experience with the mechanical joining processes (in the project "CLAP"; see further). BWI has also a large experience with testing of welded joints (conventional testing such as impact, tensile, bend, fatigue, creep, drop-weight...), metallographic examination and fracture and damage analysis (welded components, corrosion analysis, ...).
IWU has already a lot of experience with mechanical joining.
The expertise of TUD concerning fracture mechanics is required for the analysis of the joints. Nowadays, finite-element modelling is an important tool for the acceleration of parameter optimisation or for gaining a better understanding of a process. IWU and TUD have already built up experience in this area.
The expertise of KUL is concentrated on material identification (including the development of their own DIC-code), metal plasticity and FE-techniques. As to clinching, KUL (KaHo) was recently coordinator of a Flemish collective research project together with BWI on clinching. Also, a PhD that focussed on FE-modelling of clinched joints just finished and has moved into a post-doc research [43]. Four more PhDs focusing on the characterization of material behaviour for use in complex FE-models are ongoing.
EFB has a long time experience with collective research projects and organises a broad and active industry network.
