Abstract: A blind nut installed in a structural joint provides an interference fit and a fatigue enhancing benefit to the structural joint. A bolt can be inserted into the nut for additional shear strength and shear continuity. During installation in the structural joint, a first flange of the nut is seated against a first structural member, an installation tool is inserted into a passage in the nut, and the tool is operated to buckle a collapsible portion of the nut to form a second flange on a second structural member. Contemporaneously, an expandable portion of the nut is radially expanded into the structural joint. The installation process induces a high interference fit and may also induce a residual compressive stress in the structural joint.

Abstract: An alignment assembly comprises an outer bushing received in an aperture of a work piece, and an eccentric bushing received in a passage of the inner bushing and rotated to align a passage of the eccentric bushing with passages of other work pieces and/or alignment assemblies. An alignment assembly comprises an outer bushing received in an aperture of a work piece, inner bushing received in a passage of the outer bushing, and an eccentric bushing received in a passage of the inner bushing and rotated to align a passage of the eccentric bushing with passages of other work pieces and/or alignment assemblies mounted in other work pieces. Flanges and/or ends may be machined to accommodate off-center passages. The bushings may be secured via cold work expansion.

Abstract: An elongated first tubular member has a mandrel receiving center passageway and a slotted outer end portion that comprises first axial fingers separated by first axial slots. An elongated second tubular member surrounds the first tubular member and has a slotted outer end portion that comprises second axial fingers separated by second axial slots. An elongated third tubular member surrounds the second tubular member and has a slotted outer end portion comprising third axial fingers separated by third axial slots. An elongated mandrel is positioned inside the center passageway. The mandrel has a small diameter inner end portion, a large diameter outer end portion, and an increasing diameter portion extending from the small diameter inner end portion to the large diameter outer end portion. The third fingers have outer end portions that form an end opening. These fingers include radially inwardly projecting clamp jaws having substantially radial first clamp surfaces.