A stiffening element comprises a tension and compression member, a shear member, an attachment member, and a plurality of beads. The tension and compression member is positioned spaced apart from the skin and configured to bear tension or compression forces that stiffen the skin and prevent the skin from buckling or bending. The shear member is connected to the tension and compression member and configured to bear shear forces between the skin and the tension and compression member. The attachment member is connected to the shear member and is configured to connect to the skin. The beads each create out-of-plane feature that is positioned in at least one of the shear member and the attachment member. The beads permit the stiffening element be reshaped to adjust a longitudinal curvature of the stiffening element.

A stiffening element comprises a tension and compression member, a shear member, an attachment member, and a plurality of beads. The tension and compression member is positioned spaced apart from the skin and configured to bear tension or compression forces that stiffen the skin and prevent the skin from buckling or bending. The shear member is connected to the tension and compression member and configured to bear shear forces between the skin and the tension and compression member. The attachment member is connected to the shear member and is configured to connect to the skin. The beads each create out-of-plane feature that is positioned in at least one of the shear member and the attachment member. The beads permit the stiffening element be reshaped to adjust a longitudinal curvature of the stiffening element.

A method of manufacturing an energy-absorbing structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure via a two-step molding process includes molding first and second portion precursors including thermoset polymers (e.g., thermoset polymer composites) to a first degree of cure (DOC) less than one so that the portion precursors are in a gelled glass state. The method further includes joining the first and second portion precursors by applying heat and pressure in a joining region such that the thermoset polymers have a second DOC greater than the first DOC and are cross-linked in the joining region. The energy-absorbing component therefore has a unitary structure. The method may further include coupling the energy-absorbing structure to a housing. In certain aspects, energy-absorbing structures may have tailored stiffness and/or tailored crush initiation.

A method of manufacturing an energy-absorbing structure according to various aspects of the present disclosure via a two-step molding process includes molding first and second portion precursors including thermoset polymers (e.g., thermoset polymer composites) to a first degree of cure (DOC) less than one so that the portion precursors are in a gelled glass state. The method further includes joining the first and second portion precursors by applying heat and pressure in a joining region such that the thermoset polymers have a second DOC greater than the first DOC and are cross-linked in the joining region. The energy-absorbing component therefore has a unitary structure. The method may further include coupling the energy-absorbing structure to a housing. In certain aspects, energy-absorbing structures may have tailored stiffness and/or tailored crush initiation.

Methods of making oxidation and wear resistant polymeric materials using peroxide cross-linking and high temperature melting process are disclosed. A multiple step procedure for enabling the manufacturing of such material without size limitations is also disclosed.

Methods of making oxidation and wear resistant polymeric materials using peroxide cross-linking and high temperature melting process are disclosed. A multiple step procedure for enabling the manufacturing of such material without size limitations is also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates to a crash pad for a vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof. In an embodiment, the crash pad for a vehicle includes: a skin layer configured to form an outer surface of a crash pad including an airbag module; a core layer formed on a lower surface of the skin layer; and a foam layer formed between the core layer and the skin layer, wherein the skin layer has a tensile strength of 15 to 120 kgf/cm.sup.2 and an elongation at break of 50 to 700% measured in accordance with JIS K6301 standard, and a bonding strength of 0.25 kgf/cm or more as measured in accordance with ISO 813 standard.

The present disclosure relates to a crash pad for a vehicle and a manufacturing method thereof. In an embodiment, the crash pad for a vehicle includes: a skin layer configured to form an outer surface of a crash pad including an airbag module; a core layer formed on a lower surface of the skin layer; and a foam layer formed between the core layer and the skin layer, wherein the skin layer has a tensile strength of 15 to 120 kgf/cm.sup.2 and an elongation at break of 50 to 700% measured in accordance with JIS K6301 standard, and a bonding strength of 0.25 kgf/cm or more as measured in accordance with ISO 813 standard.

Non-standard, resin-infused fiber bundle includes localized regions of fibers having a sub-nominal amount of polymer resin positioned along its length. These regions function as bending regions, where the non-standard resin-infused fiber bundle can be readily deformed by virtue of the reduced amount of resin. The bending regions segregate the non-standard resin-infused fiber bundle into what is, effectively, discrete (smaller) segments of (standard) resin-infused fiber bundle. The ability to easily manipulate the non-standard, resin-infused fiber bundle via the bending regions is useful for creating fiber-bundle-based preforms, and preform charges (assemblages of fiber-bundle-based preforms).

Non-standard, resin-infused fiber bundle includes localized regions of fibers having a sub-nominal amount of polymer resin positioned along its length. These regions function as bending regions, where the non-standard resin-infused fiber bundle can be readily deformed by virtue of the reduced amount of resin. The bending regions segregate the non-standard resin-infused fiber bundle into what is, effectively, discrete (smaller) segments of (standard) resin-infused fiber bundle. The ability to easily manipulate the non-standard, resin-infused fiber bundle via the bending regions is useful for creating fiber-bundle-based preforms, and preform charges (assemblages of fiber-bundle-based preforms).