A reinforcing member comprising: (a) a carrier; and (b) an adhesive material disposed on the carrier, wherein the carrier or the adhesive material includes one or more integrally formed projections configured to mechanically secure the adhesive material to the carrier.

A method of joining polymer components includes additively manufacturing first and second mating features on first and second polymer components such that a mechanical lock is created through undercut geometric features of an adhesive material when the polymer components are joined. Adhesive is added between the mating components to strengthen the joint.

A plastic laminated structure includes a plate member of plate-shaped fiber-reinforced plastic and a core member of trapezoidal-wave-shaped fiber-reinforced plastic. The plate member includes a thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers embedded in the thermoplastic resin. The core member is thermally bonded to the plate member, and includes a thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers that is embedded in the thermoplastic resin. A part of or the entire area of a main surface of the plate member includes smooth and rough surfaces. The rough surface has larger roughness than the smooth surface. The smooth and rough surfaces are alternately arranged in stripes.

Thermoplastic assemblies, methods of defining thermoplastic assemblies, aircraft that include the thermoplastic assemblies, and aircraft that are formed utilizing the methods are disclosed herein. The methods include heating a joining structure and pressing a thermoplastic layer against a base of the joining structure. The pressing includes transferring thermal energy from the joining structure to the thermoplastic layer and penetrating the thermoplastic layer with a plurality of reinforcing projections of the joining structure. The pressing also includes adhering the thermoplastic layer to a surface of the base and to a surface of the plurality of reinforcing projections. The thermoplastic assemblies include the thermoplastic layer and the joining structure.

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 structural assembly (900) and method of fabricating the same, the method comprising: providing a first member (204) comprising a bond surface (800) and a plurality of protrusions (802) extending from the bond surface (800), a length of each of the protrusions (802) from the bond surface (800) being less than or equal to 2 mm; providing a second member (202) comprising a fibre-reinforced composite material, the fibre-reinforced composite material comprising a plurality of elongate fibres (902) embedded in a polymer matrix (904); while the polymer matrix (904) is in its plastic state, forcing the second member (202) against the bond surface (800) and the protrusions (802) so as to cause the second member (202) to form onto the bond surface (800) and the protrusions (802); and thereafter causing the polymer matrix (904) to harden, thereby fixing the first member (204) to the bond surface of the second member (202).

A welded joint between at least one metal material element and at least one thermoplastic material element is obtained by pressing the elements against each other while applying heat. Contact surfaces of the metal material, which are in contact with the thermoplastic material, are provided with uneven surface portions having a distribution of asperities. With heat applied, the thermoplastic material fills spaces between these asperities and maintains this configuration after subsequent cooling, thereby improving strength of the joint. The uneven surface portions are obtained in a preliminary forming step of the metal material in a press mold, which is configured with a forming surface for generating the uneven surface portions by mechanical deformation and/or with a device for guiding a laser or electron beam. By this technique, hybrid components are obtained made of one or more elements of metal material between which a shaped component of thermoplastic material is interposed.

An apparatus includes a device mount configured to be coupled to a component. The apparatus also includes an inner hub coupled to the device mount by a first flexure, where the first flexure is configured to permit translational movement of the device mount within the inner hub along a first axis. The apparatus further includes an outer hub coupled to the inner hub by a second flexure, where the second flexure is configured to permit translational movement of the device mount and the inner hub within the outer hub along a second axis different from the first axis. The first and second flexures form a compound nested flexure. The outer hub is configured to be coupled to a support structure and to permit both (i) translational movement of the apparatus along a third axis different from the first and second axes and (ii) tip/tilt adjustment of the apparatus.

A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

A composite component for a motor vehicle includes a first section; and a second section connected to the first section. The first section comprises a metallic material. The second section comprises a plastic. The first section has a first base region and projections provided on the first base region, wherein the projections provided on the first base region extend from the first base region to the second section. The projections provided on the first base region have undercuts, and the projections provided on the first base region are anchored in the second section in order to bring about the connection between the first section and the second section.