A system and method for dielectric bonding including a dielectric heater having a pair of opposing electrode plates, a nest removably coupled to a first electrode plate of the pair of electrode plates, and an interchangeable electrode assembly removably coupled to a second electrode plate of the pair of electrode plates. The nest having a plurality of cooling channels defined in a body thereof in which a cooling fluid circulates to cool a material assembly that is supported by the nest. The interchangeable electrode assembly having a plurality of concentrator members that are configured to concentrate energy from a voltage source in predetermined locations on the material assembly.

A structural part for a body in white of a vehicle includes a frame formed by at least two branches connected to one another in at least one connecting zone and separated from each other by at least one gap in a zone of least stress. The frame is made of a first composite material comprising a plurality of continuous fibers impregnated with a first polymeric material. A body is integral with the frame extending in the gap and connecting the two branches in the zone of least stress. The body is made of a second material that is different from the first composite material and comprises at least a second polymeric material, wherein the body is integral with the branches.

A latching assembly includes a linear component and a base component. The linear component is configured to be coupled to a first element and includes at least one retention projection. The base component is configured to be coupled to a second element and includes a channel and at least one retention feature. The linear component is configured to be slidably received within the channel of the base component and the at least one retention feature of the base component is configured to engage the at least one retention projection of the linear component to retain the linear component within the channel of the base component.

A cross car beam assembly is provided herein. A composite beam structure extends transversely across a vehicle. A vehicle floor bracket is disposed below the composite beam. A composite reinforcement has a first portion fixedly engaged to the beam structure and a second portion engaged to the vehicle floor bracket.

A vehicle body structure satisfies at least one of the following (A), (B), and (C): (A) an adhesive amount per unit area of a first adhesive in a second adjacent part is smaller than an adhesive amount per unit area of the first adhesive in a first adjacent part; (B) an adhesive amount per unit area of a panel adhesive in a second panel adjacent part is smaller than an adhesive amount per unit area of the panel adhesive in a first panel adjacent part; and (C) an adhesive amount per unit area of a second adhesive in a stacking adjacent part is smaller than an adhesive amount per unit area of the second adhesive in a non-stacking adjacent part.

In order to increase road noise transmission loss, a double-wall panel includes a core material. The core material is enclosed between an outer wall and an inner wall facing each other, and has at least a predetermined thickness across the panel in all in-plane directions of the walls. The core material has a specific surface area of 20,000 (mm.sup.2/cm.sup.3) or more, where the specific surface area is defined as a surface area per unit volume.

A bracket for mounting a vehicle running board to a vehicle. The bracket includes an L-shaped main body having a bottom support panel adapted to receive and fixedly retain the running board, a top support panel adapted to be fixedly attached to an inboard surface of a vehicle rocker panel, and intermediate support panel adapted to be fixedly attached to a pinch weld formed as part of the rocker panel.

A vehicle component and method of forming a vehicle component. The vehicle component includes an additively-manufactured (AM) structure with a first end and a second end opposing the first end. The AM structure includes a pathway from the first end to the second end and a non-AM structure that passes along the pathway from the first end to the second end. The non-AM structure and the AM structure are fixedly connected to one another at a connection.

A fastening body for fastening an underbody liner component to a motor vehicle underbody, the fastening body encompassing a bracing segment having a passthrough opening penetrable along a penetration axis by a fastening means when the fastening body is in the operationally ready state, and having a bracing region, embodied in the surrounding region of the passthrough opening, which is provided for abutment of a counterpart bracing region of the fastening means; a liner segment that is arranged at a distance from the bracing segment and comprises, at least on its outer side facing away from the bracing region, a preferably flat outer surface; and a connecting segment connecting the bracing segment and the liner segment.

An assembly is provided consisting of a frame element of a motor vehicle and a connecting element used for connecting a part. The connecting element is secured to the frame element by way of a fiber winding.