An apparatus including a first surface configured to attach the apparatus to a second surface of another object, and a plurality of elongated nanofibers. Each nanofiber has one end connected to the first surface and an opposite end extending away from the first surface. The plurality of elongated nanofibers is configured to adhere to the second surface by nanoadhesion when brought into contact with the second surface.

A joint for use with a composite laminated component is disclosed herein. The joint includes a component including a partial U-shaped trapezoidal cavity and a triangular component. The partial trapezoidal component includes a base extending in a first direction, a first side extending away from the base at a first angle from the first direction, a second side extending away from the base at a second angle from the first direction and toward the first side, and an opening defined by the first side and the second side. The triangular component is coupled to the base and extending orthogonally away from the base in a second direction and toward the opening.

A joined body includes: a first compact that includes a fiber-reinforced resin and a fiber exposure portion where a fiber of the fiber-reinforced resin is exposed, the fiber exposure portion being formed on at least a part of a surface of the first compact; a second compact that is joined to the first compact at the fiber exposure portion of the first compact; and a joint portion that is interposed between the fiber exposure portion of the first compact and the second compact.

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.

A method of manufacturing a pump device for conveying a fluid may include providing a metal housing and a further component. The further component may have plastic on at least one outer side. The method may further include bringing the at least one outer side of the further component into contact with a connecting section of the metal housing, heating the metal housing such that the plastic of the further component melts at the connecting section of the metal housing and wets the connecting section, and terminating the heating of the metal housing such that the plastic hardens and the further component is thermally joined to the metal housing at the connecting section.

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.

Methods for fastening two fiber composite parts to each other with a fastener that includes electroactive polymer material. The parts have an opening within an inner circumferential surface. Fibers protrude from the inner circumferential surface into the opening and interlock with chains of micrograins of the electroactive polymer material. The fastener may switch between an activated state and a deactivated state and in the deactivated state, the fastener engages the exposed fibers.

A caulking pin (15) is inserted into a mounting hole (21) provided in a metal case body (3), and the end portion of the caulking pin (15) is thermally caulked with a welding tip (24) to form a mold forming portion (17). A surplus absorption recess (31) is formed by enlarging the opening end of the mounting hole (21), and surplus resin is absorbed. The surplus absorption recess (31) is positioned inside a region of the mold forming portion (17). Therefore, the amount of molten surplus resin that protrudes outward from the welding tip (24) in the thermal caulking process is reduced.

A method of mechanically securing a first object to a second object, wherein the first object has a thermoplastic material in a solid state, the second object has a generally flat sheet portion having a second object edge. A third object is provided and arranged to provide an assembly including the first, second and third objects, in which assembly the second object edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material. Mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly by means of a vibrating tool until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the second object edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the second object edge to at least partially embed the second object edge in the thermoplastic material and the third object is caused to be embedded at least partially in the thermoplastic material of the first object.