Methods and apparatus are described for improving fit checking at the bonding interface of a first component, such as a fan blade (1), and a second component, such as an edge guard (2) for the fan blade (1), to be bonded by adhesive. A bondline thickness profile over the area of the bonding interface is determined by interposing a compressible, flexible sensor layer between the components before they are bonded. The sensor layer contains an array of piezoelectric elements which indicate local bondline thickness by signalling pressure due to compression of the layer. The bondline thickness profile can be processed by a programmed control processor to produce an adhesive application schedule prescribing the shapes of pieces of adhesive film which, when applied over the bonding interface, will build up an adhesive layer corresponding in thickness to the bondline thickness. The sensor layer can be prepared as a kit of shaped panels or as a contoured preform (55) matching the form of the bonding interface.

A composite tube comprises a first tube section 100 and a second tube section, at least one of which is of fiber reinforced composite form, a mating interface being provided on each of the first and second tube sections, each of the respective mating interfaces having an interfering portion to create an interference fit between the first and second tube sections when the composite tube is assembled, each of the mating interfaces being configured with a recess the recesses being alignable with one another, during assembly, to define a combined recess when the composite tube is assembled, into which a hardened settable compound can be disposed during assembly to form an internal locking element that assists the interference fit by mechanically securing together the first and second tube sections.

A composite structural component includes a longitudinally extending elongated base element and a plurality of longitudinally extending elongated reinforcing members each secured to the base element along a length of the reinforcing member at spaced apart locations on the base element. The base element is of a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a first modulus of elasticity. The plurality of longitudinally extending elongated reinforcing members are of a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion less than the first coefficient of thermal expansion, and a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity, such that the composite structural component has an effective coefficient of thermal expansion in the longitudinal direction that is less than 25% of the first coefficient of thermal expansion.

The present invention is a method for seaming a polymeric material. The method involves forming an interface between a plurality of separate polymeric sheets of materials. Next, heat and pressure are applied to facilitate the diffusion of the polymer molecules at the interface. A diffusion weld is made when the polymer molecules diffuse across the interface.

A method and apparatus to mitigate the severity of the bond-line read-out defect, and more specifically microwave heating to locally cure adhesive bond-line in a single or two stage process comprising heating thermoset adhesive with microwave radiation until the adhesive is fully cured or partially cured. If the adhesive is partially cured, it can be fully cured by being subjected to an additional thermal cycle.

There is provided a composite structure, comprising a base member(s) made of metallic material, and a reinforcement member(s) made of fiber reinforced plastic including reinforcement fibers which are aligned in a uni-direction, wherein at least one slit is formed on the reinforcement member(s) so as to extend in an orientation direction of the reinforcement fibers.

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.