The present disclosure relates a rivet body, including a rivet head and a rivet shank, composed of a different material than a mandrel used for insertion into a workpiece(s), the mandrel including a mandrel shaft and a mandrel cap. The rivet body receives the mandrel shaft, including the mandrel cap, through the rivet shank. The mandrel shaft is received by the installation tool, which rotates the rivet body, and the mandrel cap locally deforms workpieces(s) through friction riveting to install the rivet body. During the friction riveting, the fast-rotating rivet body is pushed into the workpiece(s) causing local deformation/melting where the mandrel cap contacts the workpiece(s). The mandrel cap creates a cavity which progresses through an upper surface and a lower surface of the workpiece(s).

A thin, cured gel gasket is disclosed, including methods of making the thin gel gasket and the use of the thin gel gasket in an aircraft joint. In one embodiment, the thin gel gasket has no skeleton or other structure and is comprised of only a cured polyurethane gel and has a thickness of less than about 12 mill. It is manufactured using a release film that is adapted in a number of ways to make release from the gel prior to use easier. In one method of making and using the thin gel gasket. it is applied to a joint which is subject to compression, in one embodiment, a lap joint of an aircraft fuselage.

According to one embodiment a sealing plug is provided that includes an elastic body and a stem assembled coaxially with respect to one another. The elastic body is suitable for being expanded radially by pulling on the free end of the stem, which projects out of the elastic body, once it is inserted into the hole to be plugged, the elastic body applying a closing pressure against the hole. The sealing plug also comprises an empty space, arranged between the elastic body and the stem, which is communicated with the outside, such that the entrance of fluid into the elastic body is allowed so that the fluid applies pressure against the elastic body, thereby increasing the closing pressure applied by the elastic body against the hole.

A fastener includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end, and a shaft body, a head portion, and a threaded portion. At least one inner feed channel extends through the head portion and the shaft body and terminates proximal to the threaded portion. The fastener has a plurality of flutes formed along and circumferentially spaced around an outer surface of the shaft body and an outer surface of the head portion. Each flute has a first end and extends from a first location proximal to the threaded portion, along the outer surface of the shaft body, and radially outward along the outer surface of the head portion. The fastener further has one or more lateral feed channels formed laterally through the shaft body and connecting the inner feed channel to at least two opposing flutes on the outer surface of the shaft body.

A fastener sealing material for application to fasteners is formulated from an acrylate present in a concentration of about 90 to about 97 percent by weight of the sealing material and a nanostructured material present in a concentration of about 3 to about 10 percent by weight of the sealing material. The sealant is applied to the fastener as a liquid and is cured using an ultraviolet or LED light source and without the use of heat.

A method of making an assembly is disclosed. According to the method, a curable sealant is applied to a metal surface of a first article, and the curable sealant and first article are stored under conditions to maintain the curable sealant in an at least partially uncured state. The method further includes contacting the curable sealant on the first article metal surface with an electrically conductive surface of a second article, and curing the curable sealant.

A fastening element (1) for insertion into an opening (50) of a part (51), in particular a vehicle body part, wherein the fastening element (1) has a head region (2), a flange region (3), which is connected to the head region (2) via a first shaft region (4), and a second shaft region (5), which continues from the flange region (3) on the side opposite the head region (2) and is formed such that, in the inserted state of the fastening element (1) in the opening (50), it extends through the opening (50), at least in certain regions, and forms a snap connection with the part (51), in particular vehicle body part, wherein at least one indicator element (6) is associated with the fastening element (1) for, in particular, acoustically and/or visually signaling an assembly state of the fastening element (1).

A pin having a tool engagement portion and a resiliently deformable cover arranged over the tool engagement portion. The resiliently deformable cover is operable to deform from a first position to a second position to allow for the engagement of the tool engagement portion with a tool. The tool engagement portion is substantially concealed when the cover is in the first position, reducing the opportunities for dirt ingress. A tool may be used to deform the cover and allow the tool to engage with the tool engagement portion such that rotation of the tool causes co-rotation of the pin.

An occurrence of thermal distortion when heterogenous materials are joined together is suppressed. Provided is a joining structure that includes a first member, a second member, a rivet and a resin-filled portion. The first member is formed of a first material. The second member is formed of a second material that is different from the first material. The rivet penetrates through at least the first member and joins the first member and second member together. The resin-filled portion is provided around the rivet at a side of the first member at which the second member is disposed. The resin-filled portion is formed by at least one of the first member and the second member and forms a gap between the first member and the second member. A resin member is disposed inside the resin-filled portion.

A fastener adapted to be installed in a hole of a composite structure includes a sleeve, a pin member, and a locking member. The sleeve has an outer surface having an outer diameter. The outer surface of the sleeve is textured. The outer diameter of the tubular portion is less than an inner diameter of the hole of the structure. The pin member has a shank portion. The sleeve is adapted to expand radially over the shank portion of the pin member to form an interference fit between the outer surface of the sleeve and the hole of the structure so as to provide an installed position of the fastener. When the fastener is in the installed position, the texture of the outer surface of the tubular portion deforms to engage with voids of the composite material present on the inner surface of the hole.