A method of anchoring a connector in a heterogeneous first object that includes a first building layer and, distally of the first building layer, an interlining layer. The method includes providing the first object and the connector, which includes thermoplastic material in a solid state; contacting the connector with the first building layer; applying a first mechanical pressing force to the connector until the first building layer is pierced by the connector and a distal portion of the connector reaches into the interlining layer; applying a second mechanical pressing force and mechanical vibration to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates structures of the first object, and a distally facing abutment face of the head portion abuts against the metal profile in a region next to the opening; and letting the thermoplastic material resolidify to yield a positive-fit connection.

A method of bonding together a first object and a second object having a flat part and an opening defining a contour is provided. The second object has a fastening portion having a coupling structure defining an undercut and running around a periphery of the opening. The method includes positioning the first object relative to the second object in the opening, and providing a thermoplastic material along the contour, causing a relative force between the second and first objects and impinging the assembly of the first and second object with mechanical vibration until at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows into the coupling structure, and causing the thermoplastic material to re-solidify.

An anchoring method of anchoring an anchoring element in a construction object is provided, where a surface of which object has at least one of pores in a surface, structures in a surface (such as an arrangement of ridges with undercut), a inhomogeneous characteristic with makes the penetration of a surface by a liquid under pressure possible, thereby creating pores filed by the liquid underneath the surface, and of a cavity. The method includes the steps of: providing a first element and a second element, the first element comprising a thermoplastic material; positioning the first element in a vicinity of said surface and/or of said cavity, respectively, and positioning the second element in contact with the first element; and causing a third element to vibrate while loading the first element with a force, thereby applying mechanical vibrations to the first element, and simultaneously loading the first element with a counter-force by the second element.

A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.

A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on a first object in an opening provided on a second object. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. During the step of inserting the insert portion in the opening and/or during anchorage a clamping force is applied to opposing surfaces of the second object to prevent the second object from cracking or bulging.

A method is provided for welding a ball to another component. The method includes: providing a sonotrode which has a trough-shaped recess, in particular a spherical cap-shaped recess; pressing the ball against the other component by the sonotrode, the ball protruding into the trough-shaped recess; and vibrating the ball by the sonotrode such that material of the ball and/or material of the other component melts, and the ball is welded to the other component.

The invention relates to a device for setting a setting element having a first plastic material in a component having a second plastic material, comprising a rotational advancing unit, by means of which the setting element can be rotated about an axis of rotation and simultaneously an axial force acting in the direction of the axis of rotation can be applied to the setting element in order to drive the setting element into the component, a friction welding joint thereby being produced between the setting element and the component, a differential-distance measuring apparatus for measuring the differential distance between a surface of the component and a surface of the driven setting element, and a control unit for controlling the rotational advancing unit in dependence on the measured differential distance.

A system comprising a pipe and at least one fitting, wherein the pipe is made essentially of a thermoplastic, fiber-reinforced composite material, and the fitting is made essentially of titanium or a titanium alloy, and the pipe and the fitting are connected in a fluid-tight manner

A manufacturing method for manufacturing a welded thermoplastic composite and honeycomb core structure is provided. A thermoplastic composite and honeycomb structure is generated by positioning a first thermoplastic composite skin on a support structure, positioning a first thermoplastic film over the first thermoplastic composite skin, positioning a honeycomb core over the first thermoplastic film, positioning a second thermoplastic film is positioned over the honeycomb core, and positioning a second thermoplastic composite skin over the second thermoplastic film. The second thermoplastic composite skin is ultrasonically welded to the honeycomb core. The thermoplastic composite and honeycomb structure is then flipped over, and the first thermoplastic composite skin is then ultrasonically welded to the honeycomb core.

A cryogenic storage tank including a first metallic end piece having a first structured connection area on its outer surface, a second metallic end piece having a second structured connection area on its outer surface, a hollow body extending between the first structured connection area and the second structured area. The hollow body is formed of a fiber reinforced polymer-based composite, a first metallic clamp having a third structured connection area and a second metallic clamp having a fourth structured connection area. The hollow body is arranged between and in intimate contact with the first structured connection area of the first metallic end piece and with the third structured connection area of the first metallic clamp and is arranged between and in intimate contact with the second structured connection area of the second metallic end piece and with the fourth structured connection area of the second metallic clamp.