A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

A plastic component having a core that has a thermoset matrix and an add-on part anchored to the core. At least the securing region of the add-on part can be formed from a thermoplastic and is secured by the securing region to the core of the plastic component, the securing region being attached to the core or inserted or pressed into the core, bonding, in a fusible state produced by the application of energy, in particular by ultrasonic vibrations, with the core and being anchored thereto or therein after solidification, in particular, as a connection anchor.

A method of manufacturing a lightweight building element assembly is disclosed. The assembly firstly comprises a first object (1) being a lightweight building element that has a first outer building layer (11) and an interlining layer (13). The assembly further comprises a second object (2) secured to the first object. The method comprises firstly providing the first object, wherein the first object has an indentation (19) formed by the first outer building layer. The indentation may form a blind opening or a through opening in the first object. The method further comprises providing the second object (2), wherein the second object comprises an outer surface portion of a thermoplastic material, wherein the outer surface portion is a lateral outer surface portion with respect to an axis. The second object is brought in contact with the first object so that the lateral outer surface is in physical contact with the sidewall (14), and mechanical energy is coupled into the second object so as to cause energy absorption due to friction between the lateral outer surface and the lateral wall, until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material becomes liquefiable and flows relative to the lateral wall. After re-solidification of the thermoplastic material, the flow portion secures the second object to the first object.

The present invention provides a laminated plate capable of not only achieving a reduced weight and an increased rigidity but also improving a sound absorbing performance, and a method for manufacturing the same. A laminated plate (1) is supposed to include a core layer (2) including a plate-shaped paper honeycomb structure (4) and a pair of fiber reinforcement layers (3) sandwiching the paper honeycomb structure (4) from both sides in a thickness direction and integrated with the paper honeycomb structure 4. The through-holes (5) of the paper honeycomb structure (4) are filled with a foam resin (6), and the core layer (2) is made up of the paper honeycomb structure 4 and the foam resin (6) filled in the through-holes (5). When the foam resin (6) is filled in the through-holes (5) of the paper honeycomb structure (4), the foam resin plate (6A) is pushed into the through-holes (5) as a filling material by utilizing a compression force of a mold (11).

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

A composite structure includes a first composite skin and a second composite skin defining a longitudinal cavity therebetween. The first composite skin and the second composite skin further define at least one edge where the first composite skin contacts the second composite skin. The composite structure further includes at least one core disposed within the longitudinal cavity. The core includes a first surface and a second surface which define a core edge where the first surface contacts the second surface. The core is positioned with the core edge adjacent the at least one edge with the first surface contacting the first composite skin and the second surface contacting the second composite skin.

A method of anchoring a connector in a first object, wherein the first object is a lightweight building element having a first outer building layer and an interlining layer, and wherein the connector includes thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method includes: bringing a coupling surface portion of the connector into contact with an attachment location of the first outer building layer; displacing a portion of the first outer building layer at the attachment location with respect to the interlining layer by applying a first pressing force to the first outer building layer and thereby piercing the first outer building layer; applying a second pressing force to the connector and transferring energy to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material has liquefied and flown to interpenetrate structures of the interlining layer; and stopping the energy transfer and allowing the flow portion to re-solidify.

A method of making an aircraft acoustic structural panel (10) begins with preforming a core honeycomb laminate (12) having preformed foam (3) bonded inside cells (14) thereof by a distinct adhesive (2). The preformed honeycomb laminate (12) is then stacked between opposite top and bottom structural outer laminates (16,18). The stacked honeycomb laminate (12) and outer structural laminates (16,18) are then compressed together under heat and pressure into a unitary structural panel (10) having the core honeycomb laminate (12) integrally bonded between outer skins (20,22). The outer laminates (16,18) may include imperforate acoustic septums (4) bounding the core honeycomb laminate (12) followed by an outer honeycomb (5) and structural fiber layers (6, 7, 8) defining the outer skins (20,22).

Described are novel composite structural panels and methods of forming such panels. In some examples, a method comprises wrapping a mandrel with a composite tape to form a composite tube. This wrapping operation allows forming composite tubular structures with any cross-sectional profiles defined by the mandrel. The wrapping is also used to control the fiber orientations in the composite tubular structures. The composite tube is then cut into composite tubular structures. In some examples, the composite tube is partially cured prior to the cutting, which allows removal of the mandrel while preserving the shape of the composite tube. This cutting operation allows forming composite tubular structures with different lengths, shapes, and orientations of the ends. The composite tubular structures are disposed on a support structure and are bonded to each other. In some examples, this bonding operation also involves final curing of the composite tubular structures.

A method for manufacturing a thrust reverser blocker door may comprise thermoforming a sandwich panel comprising a facesheet, a backsheet, and a honeycomb core. The method may further comprising overmolding a mounting structure onto the backsheet. The first thermoplastic material may comprise a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material. The second thermoplastic material may comprise a discontinuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite material.