A composite tube joint may comprise an end of a composite tube, an inner member disposed within the end, wherein an outer surface of the inner member has a complementary shape to an inner surface of the end, an outer member concentrically surrounding the end of the composite tube, and an undulated surface configured to mitigate movement of the end of the composite tube relative to at least one of the inner member and the outer member.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides an undercut anchor including an attachment barrel and a cylindrical plug positioned in and moveable in the attachment barrel. The attachment barrel includes a cylindrical body, an outer rim extending outwardly and away from a bottom end of the body, and a plurality of independently pivotable gripping arms extending from a top end of the body.

A fastener for retaining a bolt in a hole in a structure, comprising a bushing integrally formed with and extending from the bottom surface of a retainer, the bushing being dimensioned for insertion into the hole in the structure and having a wall thickness ranging from about 0.005 inches to about 0.030 inches, wherein the bushing is configured to be expanded within the hole, thereby securely coupling the expanded bushing within the hole of the structure and anchoring the retainer to the surface of the structure surrounding the hole. A tool for installing a fastener, comprising a tapered mandrel configured for insertion within a fastener situated within a hole of the structure, a drive mechanism configured to retract the mandrel through the fastener and thereby expand the fastener, and a force sensor configured for measuring a force applied by the drive mechanism to retract the mandrel through the fastener.

The disclosure relates to an end fitting attachable to an end of a sucker rod. The end fitting includes a generally cylindrical body including a receptacle portion and a coupling portion along a longitudinal axis. The receptacle portion includes a receptacle extending inwardly from an open end surface of the body along the longitudinal axis for receiving the sucker rod end therein. The receptacle includes a plurality of wedge portions disposed therein and the coupling portion extends from a coupling end surface of the body opposite the open end surface. The wedge portions each have a peak portion, a first angled portion and a second angled portion. Each second angled portion has an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis wherein each angle of the second angled portions increases from the open end surface of the receptacle portion toward the coupling portion of the end fitting.

A joint exhibits high tensile strength. The joint includes a solid rod having a slit or opening into which a wedge is inserted. The rod and wedge are inserted into a fitting. Only a small amount of adhesive material is applied between the fitting and the rod. The adhesive material may be blended with non-adhesive, non-compressible beads that have a preferred diameter in order to insure that the desired adhesive thickness is achieved between the fitting and the rod. The internal surface of the fitting has a contour which continuously and nonlinearly varies with distance along the fitting. The wedge has a dimension having a similar contour. The shape of the contour can be described by a polynomial of order two or higher. The joint can be used to construct a sucker rod for an oil well, or it can be used in other applications. The joint can support high tensile loads, over long distances, while occupying a very narrow tubing bore.

A method of assembling components of a vehicle is provided that includes locating a node relative to an adjoining component, measuring at least one geometrical feature of the node or the adjoining component, 3D printing an assembly adjustment member based on the measuring, and placing the assembly adjustment member proximate at least one of the node or the adjoining component. The assembly adjustment member is configured to allow relative movement between the node and the adjoining component for subsequent processing operations.

A spacecraft includes a 3-D closed truss structure including at least four coupling nodes and at least six strut elements, attached together by a plurality of joints, each coupling node including at least two legs, each strut element disposed between and attached with a respective pair of the plurality of coupling nodes. Each coupling node is attached, at respective ones of the plurality of joints, with at least two strut elements. Each strut element is attached at a first end with a first leg of a first coupling node and is attached at a second end with a second leg of a second coupling node, the first leg being substantially longer than the second leg.

Connections between nodes and tubes are provided. An apparatus can include additively manufactured first and second nodes, a tube, and an interconnect connecting the tube to the first and second nodes. An apparatus can include a node having an end portion with inner and outer concentric portions forming an annular gap therebetween, and a tube having an end portion extending into the gap.

A composite wall assembly edge joint including a first composite buildup pad having a first tapered section is secured to and extends along a first composite face sheet. A second composite buildup pad having a second tapered section is secured to and extends along a second composite face sheet, wherein the first and second composite buildup pads are positioned between spaced apart first and second composite face sheets. A composite flute core member includes a tapered first portion positioned between and secured to the first tapered section and to the second tapered section. A second portion of the composite flute core member extends in a direction away from the tapered first portion of the composite flute core member and is positioned between, extends along and is secured to the first and second composite face sheets.

A system and method for increasing a tooth shear strength without also increasing a torsional rigidity of a flexible sleeve disposed between two hubs of a flexible coupling for transmitting mechanical motion between two shafts includes attaching a stiffening caps to both ends of a flexible sleeve, between the flexible sleeve and the hubs.