A method for coupling a tube to a tube fitting includes radially outwardly expanding a tubular compression collar from a constricted state to an expanded state, the compression collar having a throughway extending there through and being made of a resiliently flexible material. An end of the tube is inserted within the throughway of the expanded compression collar, the tube bounding a passage. A tube fitting is inserted within the passage of the tube. The compression collar is allowed to resiliently rebound back towards the constricted state so that the compression collar pushes the tube against the tube fitting.

A method of bonding a composite vane to at least one support. The method includes positioning an end of a vane within a support, causing an adhesive to flow between the vane and the support from an inlet to an outlet, and reversing the flow of adhesive from the outlet towards the inlet.

A method for assembling two parts, referred to as first and second parts, the first part being produced from composite material with fibrous reinforcement embedded in a thermosetting or thermoplastic matrix, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining the first part comprising, on all or part of an outer surface, a first amorphous thermoplastic film; positioning the first part and the second part such that the first amorphous thermoplastic film is placed opposite the second part; introducing a thermosetting resin between the first amorphous thermoplastic film and the second part; at least partially polymerising the thermosetting resin. When the two parts comprise an amorphous thermoplastic film, the parts are positioned such that the respective amorphous thermoplastic films are placed opposite each other, and the thermosetting resin is introduced between the amorphous thermoplastic films.

A lightweight, flame-retardant, multilayered composite structure having at least the following components: a thermoplastic foam core having two opposing surfaces; a thermoplastic adhesive film on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the foam core, one or more composite layer(s) on each adhesive film. The composite layer(s) is/are composed of reinforcement fibers embedded in a thermoplastic polymer or thermoset resin matrix. Adhesive bonding is effectuated by the interleaving thermoplastic adhesive film interposed between the thermoplastic foam core and the adjacent composite layer. The thermoplastic adhesive film is formed of a thermoplastic polymer composition having a T.sub.g of at least 20° C. lower than the T.sub.g of the foam core material.

A coupling assembly includes: a tubular compression collar having a tubular body made of a resiliently flexible polymeric material and having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface; an end of a tube disposed within a throughway of the compression collar; and a tube fitting disposed within the passageway of the tube. The tube fitting includes: a tubular stem; a flange radially outwardly projecting from an exterior surface of the stem; and an annular barb encircling and radially outwardly projecting from the exterior surface of the stem, the annular barb including a frustoconical outside face that extends along and outwardly slopes away from the stem as the outside face extends toward the flange. The compression collar radially inwardly compresses the tube against the annular barb of the tube fitting so that a liquid tight seal is formed between the tube and the tube fitting.

A method for coupling a tube to a tube fitting includes radially outwardly expanding a tubular compression collar from a constricted state to an expanded state, the compression collar having a throughway extending there through and being made of a resiliently flexible material. An end of the tube is inserted within the throughway of the expanded compression collar, the tube bounding a passageway. A tube fitting is inserted within the passageway of the tube. The compression collar is allowed to resiliently rebound back towards the constricted state so that the compression collar pushes the tube against the tube fitting.

A fiber-reinforced resin component comprises a first part having a plurality of first fiber layers impregnated in a matrix resin and a second part having a plurality of second fiber layers impregnated in the matrix resin. The second part is bonded to the first part via an adhesive layer. The fiber-reinforced resin component further comprises a plurality of connecting fibers that connect the first part and the second part. One end portion of the connecting fibers is sandwiched between the first fiber layers, and the other end portion of the connecting fibers is sandwiched between the second fiber layers.

A method of manufacturing a closed cross-section structural member is disclosed. The closed cross-section structural member includes: a first panel and a second panel joined to each other to form a closed cross-section; and a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) material bonded to the first panel. The method includes: attaching the FRP material to the first panel with an adhesive; curing the FRP material and the adhesive by heating the FRP material and the adhesive together with the first panel; and joining the second panel to the first panel in which the FRP material and the adhesive are cured.

This disclosure is directed to methods directly adhering epoxy-based, and other thermosetting surfacing films to solid thermoplastic surfaces and the structures derived or derivable from these methods. In some embodiments, the disclosure is also directed to composite structures comprising a thermoplastic substrate directly bonded to a thermoset(ting) surfacing film; wherein the direct bonding defines an interface between a thermoplastic surface of the thermoplastic substrate and a first surface of the thermoset(ting) surfacing film.

A method for joining composite rods with tubular shape without expensive, machined connectors and without compromising the structural integrity of the composite rod includes internal and external collars applied to the ends of the composite rod and deformed via unidirectional compressive load applied by a clamp in the radial direction of the composite rod cross-section. The resulting plastic deformation of the metal collars and composite rod interlock those components to support both compressive and tensile loads. The deformed metal collars are easily joinable to other components via off-the-shelf hardware.