Design and Performance Study of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Connection Structures with Surface Treatment on Aluminum Alloy (6061)

Abstract

The existing connection methods for aluminum alloy profiles primarily include adhesive bonding and mechanical connections, with metal welding being widely employed. However, metal welding connections exhibit issues such as low joint strength, significant welding deformation, susceptibility to surface oxidation, poor welding surface quality, and challenges in achieving thin-walled metal structures. This paper presents a novel aluminum alloy connection structure that utilizes carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites to replace welding for connecting aluminum alloy profiles. This innovative aluminum alloy composite connection structure not only enhances connection strength but also addresses the difficulties associated with metal welding. Research indicates that the optimal width of the CFRP structure in the connector is 60 mm, and with synergistic treatment of the aluminum alloy surface, the connection enhancement effect is optimal. Under these conditions, the tensile load can reach 58.71 kN and the bending load can reach 14.33 kN, which are 375.38% and 380.87% higher than those of welded aluminum alloy connections, respectively. The mass-specific strength increases by 106.27% and 134.42%, respectively. Simulations of this connection structure in components demonstrate that it improves strength by 73.99% and mass-specific strength by 71.95% compared to pure metal welded connections. Using ABAQUS 2023 software for simulation and calculation, the difference between the simulation and experimental results is within 5%, verifying the feasibility of the designed structure. This study provides new insights and a theoretical foundation for the development and application of hybrid connection methods involving metal and fiber-reinforced composites.