A method for the connection of components or component regions and a non-releasable connection produced in this manner. Two connection faces are partially welded to each other with an adhesive layer being incorporated between the two connection faces. The method including the following steps: arranging a welding base on a connection face, applying the adhesive layer to a connection face, moving the connection faces toward each other in such a manner that the welding base is applied against the other connection face, introducing welding current in the region of the applied welding base. A spacer is arranged between the connection faces before the connection faces are moved toward each other. The connection faces are spaced apart from each other in the region of the welding base by the extent that the welding base projects above the spacer.

A preassembled parallel wire cable creates a random cast of loops. Any of the random cast of loops is hung for transport, thus eliminating costly and time-consuming coiling and reeling operations.

A parallel wire cable is produced from a plurality of wires arranged in a bundle for use as a structural cable. Each wire in the plurality of wires is parallel to every other wire in the bundle, and each wire in the plurality of wires is tensioned to a tension value.

Provided is an automotive member, or particularly, a steel sheet having a tensile strength exceeding 900 MPa. The automotive member has a resistance weld for fixing two or more steel sheets containing a predetermined composition, in which a maximum hardness (HV.sub.BM) in a heat-affected zone of the resistance weld is at least 1.1 times hardness (HV.sub.W) of a nugget in the resistance weld formed in a softest steel sheet of a sheet set during resistance welding, and furthermore, an average grain size of a steel sheet structure of the heat-affected zone within 2 mm in a direction at a right angle to a sheet thickness from an end part of the nugget of the high-strength steel sheet is 3 m or less, and a minimum hardness (HV.sub.min) in the heat-affected zone is at least 90% of hardness (HV.sub.) of the high-strength steel sheet before the resistance welding.

An expanded laminate and method of forming an expanded laminate are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes selectively applying a relatively high temperature-resistant material to a surface of a first metal sheet to form a covered portion and an uncovered portion and diffusion bonding the first metal sheet to a second metal sheet at the uncovered portion to form a bonded region and an unbonded region. Pressurized gas may be introduced between the first and second metal sheets to expand the first and second metal sheets in the unbonded region. The metal sheets may be aluminum sheets. The sheets may be positioned in a die having a plurality of cavities such that when the pressurized gas is introduced the sheets expand into the cavities. The diffusion bonding may be performed by applying pressure, for example, using rollers.

A joint structure includes: a first same-type metal member; a second same-type metal member that can be mutually welded with the first same-type metal member; and a different-type member that has a penetrating portion, is interposed between the first same-type metal member and the second same-type metal member. In the plate thickness direction of an emission region in which a laser beam is emitted toward the penetrating portion, the plate thickness at the emission region of the first same-type metal member positioned on the side on which the laser beam is emitted is a predetermined thickness corresponding to a first gap. The first same-type metal member and the second same-type metal member are fused and bonded together via the penetrating portion, and the different-type member is compressed and fixed, such that the different-type member is fixed to the first same-type metal member and the second same-type metal member.

A parallel wire cable is produced from a plurality of wires arranged in a bundle for use as a structural cable. Each wire in the plurality of wires is parallel to every other wire in the bundle, and each wire in the plurality of wires is tensioned to a tension value.

A parallel wire cable is produced from a plurality of wires arranged in a bundle for use as a structural cable. Each wire in the plurality of wires is parallel to every other wire in the bundle, and each wire in the plurality of wires is tensioned to a tension value.

A method of welding an overlapped portion according to the present invention in which a plurality of steel sheet members are joined at an overlapped portion, and at least one of the plurality of steel sheet members contains martensite, includes: forming a spot-welded portion having a nugget in the overlapped portion; and emitting a laser beam to form a melted and solidified portion crossing an end of the nugget and located between the nugget and a position externally spaced apart from an end of the nugget by not less than 3 mm, this melted and solidified portion being formed in the steel sheet member containing the martensite so as to have a depth of not less than 50% of the thickness of the steel sheet member containing the martensite at a position externally spaced apart from the end of the nugget by 1 mm.

This clad material includes a first layer made of a MgLi base alloy, a second layer made of an Al base alloy, and a first bonding portion arranged on a bonding interface between the first layer and the second layer in a section view when cut in a thickness direction and made of a Cu base alloy. The clad material has a specific gravity of 2.10 or less.