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 open-channel stiffener for stiffening a panel has a bonding flange for bonding the stiffener to the panel through a bondline formed between the bonding flange and the panel to form a stiffened panel. The open-channel stiffener has a cross-sectional shape that aligns, or substantially aligns, a shear center of the stiffener with a centroid of the stiffener and aligns the shear center proximate an edge of the bondline, and removes the need for a radius filler noodle. A plurality of perforations may be formed through the bonding flange to permit an adhesive to wick into the perforations and create a mechanical interlock between the bonding flange and the panel.

A method of attaching an object to a substrate with a fastener, and an associated fastener. The object is tensible and has an engagement portion. The fastener has a protrusion, which includes thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method includes applying a mechanical pressing force and a mechanical excitation capable to cause a movement of the fastener in a distal direction so that the protrusion penetrates into the substrate and liquefies the thermoplastic material until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material is flowable and penetrates into structures of the substrate. The engagement portion is moved in the distal direction by the movement of the fastener, wherein the movement of the engagement portion in the distal direction causes a tensioning force in the object, and wherein the fastener has a protruding portion extending at least partly into the substrate after the thermoplastic material resolidifies.

A hybrid bonded-fastened (HBF) joint 100 is described. The hybrid bonded-fastened (HBF) joint comprises: a first component 110 having a first joint surface 111, wherein the first component 110 is a composite component; a second component 120 having a second joint surface 121, wherein the second component 121 is a metallic component; a set of projections 130, including a first projection 130A, mutually interlocking the first component 110 and the second component 120 via the first joint surface 111 and the second joint surface 121; and an adhesive 140 mutually adhesively bonding the first component 110 and the second component 120 via the first joint surface 111 and the second joint surface 121; wherein the adhesive 140 comprises and/or is a disbondable adhesive.

A pipeline system is enclosed including unlined or plastic lined pipes. A mechanical metal to metal connection is employed that can provide a fluid tight seal. A pipe coupling may be employed to span the connection. Plastic lined pipes can have their plastic liners connected to form a fluid tight bladder. Electro-fusion may be employed.

An automated fastener insert installation system for composite panels is provided. A first module receives and secures a composite panel with respect to an origin of a first coordinate system, wherein the composite panel has opposed major surfaces and defines an insert-receiving orifice extending through one of the major surfaces, and is secured such that one of the major surfaces is externally accessible. A second module engages each of a plurality of fastener inserts with an installation aide. Third module determines a configuration of the orifice defined by the composite panel, selects a corresponding one of the fastener inserts engaged with the installation aide, inserts the selected fastener insert into the orifice, and dispenses an adhesive material through the installation aide and into the orifice about selected fastener insert such that the adhesive material secures the selected fastener insert within the orifice. Associated systems are also provided.

A mat unit is formed from at least two layers ultrasonically welded together. Each layer is individually formed from non-vinyl nontoxic thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. In ultrasonically joining the two layers together, there is no need to use additional materials, such as adhesive (i.e., chemical attachment) or stitched thread (i.e., mechanical attachment) to form the joint/weld point. Once formed from the two layers, the mat unit has four quadrants and a plurality of longitudinal ribs integrally formed in the first layer positioned in the first and third quadrants, and a plurality of transverse ribs integrally formed in the first layer positioned in the second and fourth quadrants. Additionally, there are a plurality of longitudinal ribs integrally formed in the second layer positioned in the second and fourth quadrants, and a plurality of transverse ribs integrally formed in the second layer positioned in the first and third quadrants.

An insert, a floating nut and methods for use thereof in a panel of an aircraft are presented. Specifically, an insert includes a housing defining a cavity. An aperture is further defined in a first end of the housing and a semi-spherical portion is defined at a second end of the housing. A pair of vent openings are also defined on opposing sides of the first end of the housing.

An adhesive-bonded component including a first workpiece having a first substrate and a first mating surface including a plurality of protrusions. The component also includes a second workpiece comprising a second substrate having a second mating surface contacting the first mating surface and adhesive positioned on the first mating surface. In various embodiments, the second mating surface comprises troughs receiving the protrusions of the first workpiece, and the plurality of protrusions of the first workpiece and the troughs of the second workpiece may be arranged in multiple mating patterns. The technology also includes processes of making the components.

The present invention provides a thermal caulking device which cats quickly heat and cool an object to be caulked with low electrical power. Provided is a thermal caulking device which caulks a portion of a plastic part 7 as an object to be caulked, the thermal caulking device including: a metal tip 3 having a pressing part 3a which presses the object to be caulked and a heating rod 3c which is provided upright at a center part of the pressing part 3a; heating means 10c for heating the heating rod 3c; a cooling pipe 9 which cools the heating rod 3c; cooling fluid supply means 4 for supplying a cooling fluid to the cooling pipe 9; a holder 1 which holds the metal tip 3 and the cooling pipe 9 so that the cooling pipe 9 delivers the cooling fluid toward the heating rod 3c; and control means 6 for controlling the heating means 10c and the cooling fluid supply means 4, wherein the control means 6 heats the pressing part 3a from the heating rod 3c by the heating means 10c, and after the object to be caulked is thermally caulked by the pressing part 3a, supplies the cooling fluid from the cooling fluid supply means 4 to the cooling pipe 9 to cool the pressing part 3a from the heating rod 3c.