Abstract: A reversible joint includes male and female components. The male component has a rigid stud with a shaft region and a head region having a greater width, than the shaft region. The female component includes a polymer-based bushing including a polymer sleeve and an embedded heating element. The polymer sleeve is formed from a shape memory polymer (SMP) or an SMP composite and includes a central channel. The polymer-based bushing is capable of being activated by heating with the embedded heating element to reversibly render the polymer sleeve elastic and allow deformation of the central channel to an expanded channel width during insertion of the head region. The polymer sleeve becomes rigid after deactivation of the polymer-based bushing for retention of the male component. Load bearing assemblies formed by connecting modular structures with the reversible joint are also provided along with installation tools for the same.

Abstract: Methods of making a composite aircraft primary structure include selecting a compression moldable composite sheet molding compound; preparing a first and a second layup with the compression moldable composite sheet molding compound to form a first and a second 3D preform; and compression molding the first and the second 3D preforms to form a first and a second component part. Further, the first component part comprises first geometric joint features, the second component part comprises second geometric joint features, and the second geometric joint features are complementary to the first geometric joint features such that the second geometric joint features are configured to mate with the first geometric joint features. The method further includes assembling the aircraft primary structure by joining the first component part with the second component part by aligning and mating the first geometric joint features and the second geometric joint features; and securing the same.

Abstract: A composite hybrid gear assembly includes a gear hub formed from a composite material and a gear head assembly. The gear hub includes a shaft region having an axially symmetrical external profile and a hub web region having a flared profile extending from the shaft region. The gear head assembly includes a head web region and a teeth region where the gear head assembly is fixed to the gear hub. Additionally, the composite hybrid gear assembly includes a first sleeve fixed to an external surface of the shaft region. An associated method of making a composite hybrid gear assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A tank trailer has a container formed from a tubular body and one or more polar bosses coupled to distal ends of the tubular body. The trailer includes a pumping system that has one or more pipes fluidly coupled to the interior of the container via an interface at one of the polar bosses. The tank trailer may have a base support and one or more circumferential support members coupling the base support to the composite container, or the support functionality of the base may be instead accomplished by the container. The one or more polar bosses may include an inner circular surface and an outer circular surface, wherein the outer circular surface has one or more flat portions that complement and engage one or more concave features of the substantially tubular body.