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Provided are assemblies having composite structures interlocked with shape memory alloy structures and methods of fabricating such assemblies. Interlocking may involve inserting an interlocking protrusion of a shape memory alloy structure into an interlocking opening of a composite structure and hea

Provided are assemblies having composite structures interlocked with shape memory alloy structures and methods of fabricating such assemblies. Interlocking may involve inserting an interlocking protrusion of a shape memory alloy structure into an interlocking opening of a composite structure and heating at least this protrusion of the shape memory alloy structure to activate the alloy and change the shape of the protrusion. This shape change engages the protrusion in the opening such that the protrusion cannot be removed from the opening. The shape memory alloy structure may be specifically trained prior to forming an assembly using a combination of thermal cycling and deformation to achieve specific pre-activation and post-activation shapes. The pre-activation shape allows inserting the interlocking protrusion into the opening, while the post-activation shape engages the interlocking protrusion within the opening. As such, activation of the shape memory alloy interlocks the two structures.

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1. An assembly comprising: a first structure formed from a composite material wherein first structure including a first opening that extends through an outer surface of the first structure and into a first cavity in an interior of the first structure wherein the first opening includes a first outer

1. An assembly comprising: a first structure formed from a composite material wherein first structure including a first opening that extends through an outer surface of the first structure and into a first cavity in an interior of the first structure wherein the first opening includes a first outer opening edge and a second outer opening edge which are substantially parallel and wherein the first outer opening edge and the second outer opening edge are separated by a first distance;a sleeve which surrounds the first structure and covers the first opening wherein the sleeve includes a first protrusion having a first outer protrusion edge and a second outer protrusion edge substantially parallel to one another, said first protrusion formed from a shape memory alloy;wherein the first protrusion is configured to transition from a first shape to a second shape when the shape memory alloy is heated above an activation temperature;wherein, in the first shape, a second distance, between the first outer protrusion edge and second outer protrusion edge, is less than the first distance to allow the first protrusion to fit through the first opening;wherein, in the second shape, a third distance, between the first outer protrusion edge and second outer protrusion edge, is greater than the first distance to prevent the first protrusion from fitting through the first opening after it is inserted through the first opening in the first shape. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion is heated above the activation temperate after it is inserted through first opening in the first shape to transition the first protrusion to the second shape and lock the first protrusion in place within the first cavity. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy is a one-way shape memory alloy such that the first protrusion retains the second shape when the shape memory alloy is cooled below the activation temperature. 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein, in the first shape, a portion of the first protrusion inserted into the first cavity does not conform to sides of the first cavity and wherein, in the second shape, the portion of the first protrusion inserted into the first cavity conforms to the sides of the first cavity. 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cavity is shaped to provide room for a portion of the first protrusion inserted into the cavity to expand from the first shape to the second shape. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the composite material is braided. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a first piece and a second piece wherein the first protrusion is located on the first piece. 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein a portion of the first piece is configured to interlock with a portion of the second piece. 9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the first structure includes a second opening that extends through the outer surface of the first structure and into a second cavity and wherein the second piece includes a second protrusion, the second protrusion formed from the shape memory alloy, wherein the second protrusion is configured to transition from the first shape to the second shape when the shape memory allow is heated above the activation temperature and wherein, in the first shape, a portion of the second protrusion is inserted through the second opening and wherein, in the second shape, the portion of second protrusion expands to lock the portion of the second protrusion into place. 10. An assembly comprising: a first structure comprising a composite material including a first cavity interior to an outer surface of the first structure,wherein a first opening extends through the outer surface to the first cavity, and wherein a portion of the first cavity extends beyond outer edges of the first opening such that a solid portion of the first structure is located between sides of the first cavity and the outer surface; anda second structure including a first protrusion, said first protrusion comprising a shape memory alloy wherein the first protrusion is configured to transition from a first shape to a second shape when the shape memory alloy is heated above an activation temperature,wherein the first protrusion in the first shape is configured to fit through the first opening such that the first protrusion extends into the first cavity and, while in the first cavity, the first protrusion is heated above the activation temperature to transition the first protrusion from the first shape to the second shape;wherein a portion of the first protrusion in the second shape is configured to extend into the portion of the first cavity that extends beyond the outer edges of the first opening to lock the first protrusion in place within the first cavity and prevent the portion of the first protrusion from being removed from the first cavity;wherein the first structure further includes a second cavity interior to the outer surface of the first structure,wherein a second opening extends through the outer surface of the first structure to the second cavity, and wherein a portion of the second cavity extends beyond outer edges of the second opening such that a second solid portion of the first structure is located between sides of the second cavity and the outer surface,further comprising a third structure including a second protrusion, said second protrusion,comprising the shape memory alloy wherein the second protrusion is configured to transition from a third shape to a fourth shape when the shape memory alloy is heated above the activation temperature,wherein the second protrusion in the third shape is configured to fit through the second opening such that the second protrusion extends into the second cavity and, while in the second cavity, the second protrusion is heated above the activation temperature to transition the second protrusion from the third shape to the fourth shape;wherein a portion of the second protrusion in the second shape is configured to extend into the portion of the second cavity that extends beyond the outer edges of the second opening to lock the second protrusion in place within the second cavity and prevent the second portion of the second protrusion from being removed from the second cavity;wherein the first structure further includes a second cavity interior to the outer surface of the first structure,wherein a second opening extends through the outer surface of the first structure to the second cavity, and wherein a portion of the second cavity extends beyond outer edges of the second opening such that a second solid portion of the firs-t structure is located between sides of the second cavity and the outer surface,further comprising a third structure including a second protrusion, said second protrusion,comprising the shape memory alloy wherein the second protrusion is configured to transition from a third shape to a fourth shape when the shape memory alloy is heated above the activation temperature,wherein the second protrusion in the third shape is configured to fit through the second opening such that the second protrusion extends into the second cavity and, while in the second cavity, the second protrusion is heated above the activation temperature to transition the second protrusion from the third shape to the fourth shape;wherein a portion of the second protrusion in the second shape is configured to extend into the portion of the second cavity that extends beyond the outer edges of the second opening to lock the second protrusion in place within the second cavity and prevent the second portion of the second protrusion from being removed from the second cavity; andwherein the second structure includes a third protrusion, the third structure includes a fourth protrusion and the first structure includes a third cavity interior to the outer surfacewherein a third opening extends through the outer surface of the first structure to the third cavity,wherein the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion are shaped to interlock with each other and wherein a portion of the third protrusion and a portion of the fourth protrusion extend into the third cavity to conform with sides of the third cavity. 11. An assembly comprising: a first structure comprising a composite material including a first cavity interior to an outer surface of the first structure,wherein a first opening extends through the outer surface to the first cavity, and wherein a portion of the first cavity extends beyond outer edges of the first opening such that a solid portion of the first structure is located between sides of the first cavity and the outer surface; anda second structure including a first protrusion, said first protrusion comprising a shape memory alloy wherein the first protrusion is configured to transition from a first shape to a second shape when the shape memory alloy is heated above an activation temperature,wherein the first protrusion in the first shape is configured to fit through the first opening such that the first protrusion extends into the first cavity and, while in the first cavity, the first protrusion is heated above the activation temperature to transition the first protrusion from the first shape to the second shape;wherein a portion of the first protrusion in the second shape is configured to extend into the portion of the first cavity that extends beyond the outer edges of the first opening to lock the first protrusion in place within the first cavity and prevent the portion of the first protrusion from being removed from the first cavity;wherein the first structure further includes a second cavity interior to the outer surface of the first structure,wherein a second opening extends through the outer surface of the first structure to the second cavity, and wherein a portion of the second cavity extends beyond outer edges of the second opening such that a second solid portion of the first structure is located between sides of the second cavity and the outer surface,further comprising a third structure including a second protrusion, said second protrusion,comprising the shape memory alloy wherein the second protrusion is configured to transition from a third shape to a fourth shape when the shape memory alloy is heated above the activation temperature,wherein the second protrusion in the third shape is configured to fit through the second opening such that the second protrusion extends into the second cavity and, while in the second cavity, the second protrusion is heated above the activation temperature to transition the second protrusion from the third shape to the fourth shape;wherein a portion of the second protrusion in the second shape is configured to extend into the portion of the second cavity that extends beyond the outer edges of the second opening to lock the second protrusion in place within the second cavity and prevent the second portion of the second protrusion from being removed from the second cavity;wherein the first structure further includes a second cavity interior to the outer surface of the first structure,wherein a second opening extends through the outer surface of the first structure to the second cavity, and wherein a portion of the second cavity extends beyond outer edges of the second opening such that a second solid portion of the first structure is located between sides of the second cavity and the outer surface,further comprising a third structure including a second protrusion, said second protrusion,comprising the shape memory alloy wherein the second protrusion is configured to transition from a third shape to a fourth shape when the shape memory alloy is heated above the activation temperature,wherein the second protrusion in the third shape is configured to fit through the second opening such that the second protrusion extends into the second cavity and, while in the second cavity, the second protrusion is heated above the activation temperature to transition the second protrusion from the third shape to the fourth shape;wherein a portion of the second protrusion in the second shape is configured to extend into the portion of the second cavity that extends beyond the outer edges of the second opening to lock the second protrusion in place within the second cavity and prevent the second portion of the second protrusion from being removed from the second cavity; andwherein the second structure and the third structure form an enclosing sleeve around the first structure. 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first protrusion is cooled prior to it being inserted the first opening. 13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the shape memory alloy is selected from the group consisting of nickel-titanium based alloys, indium-titanium based alloys, nickel-aluminum based alloys, copper-zinc alloys, copper-aluminum alloys, copper-gold alloys, copper-tin alloys, gold-cadmium based alloys, iron-platinum based alloys, iron-palladium based alloys, silver-and cadmium based alloys, indium-cadmium based alloys, manganese-copper based alloys. 14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the shape memory alloy is selected from the group consisting of nickel-titanium based alloys, indium-titanium based alloys, nickel-aluminum based alloys, copper-zinc alloys, copper-aluminum alloys, copper-gold alloys, copper-tin alloys, gold-cadmium based alloys, iron-platinum based alloys, iron-palladium based alloys, silver-and cadmium based alloys, indium-cadmium based alloys, manganese-copper based alloys. 15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of a portion of the first structure is one of substantially round shaped, square shaped or rectangularly shaped. 16. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of a portion of the first structure is one of substantially round shaped, square shaped or rectangularly shaped. 17. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first protrusion is cooled prior to it being inserted the first opening. 18. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the shape memory alloy is a one-way shape memory alloy such that the first protrusion of the second structure retains the second shape when the shape memory alloy is cooled below the activation temperature. 19. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the activation temperature is at least 350° F. 20. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the second structure includes a third protrusion, the third structure includes a fourth protrusion and the first structure includes a third cavity interior to the outer surface wherein a third opening extends through the outer surface of the first structure to the third cavity,wherein the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion are shaped to interlock with each other and wherein a portion of the third protrusion and a portion of the fourth protrusion extend into the third cavity to conform with sides of the third cavity. 21. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the composite material is braided. 22. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising an adhesive disposed between the first structure and the second structure, the adhesive bonding the first structure to the second structure. 23. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first protrusion of the second structure comprises a first outer protrusion corner and a second outer protrusion corner, and wherein a distance between the first outer protrusion corner and the second outer protrusion corner is configured to increase from a first distance to a second distance when the first protrusion of the second structure is heated above the activation temperature of the shape memory alloy such that the first protrusion transitions from the first shape to the second shape and wherein, in the second shape, the first outer protrusion corner and the second outer protrusion corner each extend into the portion of the first cavity that extends beyond the outer edges of the opening to lock the first protrusion in place within the first cavity. 24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the first opening of the first structure comprises a first outer opening corner and a second outer opening corner, and where a third distance between the first outer opening corner and the second outer opening corner is greater than the first distance when the first protrusion is in the first shape and wherein third distance is less than the second distance when the first protrusion is in the second shape.