Course syllabus
TRA505 Joining for disassembly lp3 VT26 (2.5 hp)
Course design
The course is offered within the Tracks initative, and is part of CIRCUMET, Advanced School on Circular Metal ComponentsLinks to an external site. for the Swedish Manufacturing Industry funded by KK-foundation. The aim of CIRCUMET is to develop 80-90 credit courses at an advanced level on the topic of climate action for the metal component manufacturing industry.
Contact details
Examiner: Johan Ahlström, johan.ahlstrom@chalmers.se
Lecturers:
Thomas Bruce, RISE, thomas.bruce@ri.se;
Oscar Andersson, RISE, oscar.andersson@ri.se
Andreas Reeb, RISE, andreas.reeb@ri.se
Guest lecturer Per Lindahl, Volvo Cars, Specialist Joining, per.lindahl@volvocars.com
Guest lecturer Thomas Carlberger, Volvo Cars, Fasteners specialist, thomas.carlberger@volvocars.com
Guest lecturer Marcus Schmidt, Volvo Cars, Specialist Adhesive Bonding Technologies, marcus.schmidt@volvocars.com
Course purpose
The course introduces students to a range of joining techniques with a focus on sustainable design and engineering practices that could lead to increased circularity in material flows. Emphasis is placed on non-fusion-based methods such as adhesive bonding, mechanical joining and brazing. Special attention is given to the possibility of disassembly for reuse and recycling for each of the methods introduced. Students will learn how joining techniques influence structural performance, recyclability, and cost efficiency and dwell on the compromises that could be necessary between manufacturability, structural performance, and possibilities for disassembly. The course encourages a critical and practical approach to selecting joining methods based on material properties, mechanical function, and environmental constraints.
Schedule
The course is scheduled during week 4 to week 9, with 5 synchronous occasions; preliminary times and subjects below (lecturer initials within parentheses):
Monday 19 January 8:30-16:30, at Chalmers, Tracks room SB3-S37 with a common lunch in the Student Union building.
- 8:30-9:00 Gathering and Coffee
- 9:00-10:00 Introduction to the course (JA)
- 10:00-12:00 Introduction to mechanical joining techniques and adhesive bonding (OA and TB)
- 12:00-13:00 Lunch at Hyllan, Kårhuset
- 13:00-15:00 Joining at Volvo Cars using methods such as Self piercing rivets, Flow drill fasteners and Laser brazing (PL)
- 15:00-15:30 Coffee
- 15:30-16:30 Reflections and brain storming of Case study (JA lead)
Wednesday 28 January 9:00-12:00 Online
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/39212672079674?p=KpMTlWWgG4heXfdh73
Meeting ID: 392 126 720 796 74
Passcode: im27Xc3o
- 9:00-10:00 Strength of different types of joints (JA)
- 10:00-11:00 Use of bolted joints at Volvo Cars (TC)
- 11:00-12:00 Case studies and open questions (JA lead)
Thursday 5 February 9:00-12:00 Online
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/35812253353812?p=NA3gUG9bTzaOVNLq79
Meeting ID: 358 122 533 538 12
Passcode: s5aK6h3s
- 9:00-10:00 Hybrid joining (AR)
- 10:00-11:00 Debonding-on-demand and conventional disassembly techniques (OA and TB)
- 11:00-12:00 Discussion on Case studies (JA)
Wednesday 18 February 9:00-12:00 Online
The schedule is not set yet
- 9:00-10:00 Discussion on Case studies (JA)
- 10:00-11:00 Quality and Durability concerns (JA)
- 11:00-11:30 Sustainability and cost (JA)
- 11:30-12:00 Open questions
Tuesday 24 February 8:30-12:00, at Chalmers, Tracks room SB3-S37.
- 8:30-9:00 Gathering and Coffee + sandwich
- 9:00-10:00 Adhesive joining at Volvo Cars (MS)
- 10:00-12:00 Presentation of case studies (students, in groups)
Friday 27 February 9-12, individual booking of oral examinations (online, JA).
Activities to be done in between classes will be communicated along the way.
The TimeEdit schedule will be updated when all times are set.
Course literature
- The Aluminum joining manual
https://aec.org/aluminum-joining-manual - The materials science behind sustainable metals and alloys - Raabe 2023,
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00799 - Making sustainable aluminium by recycling scrap: The science of "dirty" alloys - Raabe et al. 2022,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmatsci.2022.100947
These and additional selected articles from international journals are provided on Canvas under Files. With input from the teaching team, students will be encouraged to identify and acquire relevant literature throughout their projects.
Learning objectives
- Discuss joining concepts more suitable for disassembly in design and manufacturing, and contrast them with fusion methods like welding.
- Evaluate adhesive bonding, mechanical joining, soldering, and brazing in terms of materials, requirements, and cost.
- Identify suitable adhesive bonding techniques, and discuss surface treatments for different engineering applications.
- Compare mechanical joining methods (e.g., riveting, clinching, hemming) and assess their pros and cons for sustainable design.
- Understand basic principles of brazing, including metallurgy and joint design.
- Select appropriate joining methods for aluminium-to-aluminium and aluminium-to-other-metal applications.
- Communicate technical choices in multidisciplinary contexts, considering sustainability, manufacturability, performance, and circularity.
Link to the formal syllabus on Studieportalen (same information to large extent):
https://www.chalmers.se/en/education/your-studies/find-course-and-programme-syllabi/course-syllabus/TRA505/?acYear=2026/2027
Examination form
Active participation in lectures
Project assignments to practice engineering application and enable judgement of learning outcomes in project format.
Brief oral examination to ensure basic learning outcomes are fulfilled for each student. If you are a Chalmers student and aim for a higher grade, please inform me and we will discuss the levels required before the examination.