A strut comprises a composite cylinder with a mid-strut fitting mounted on an interface region on a mid-portion of said cylinder. At least in the interface region, layers of helical-filaments are displaced radially-outward and even inclined with respect to an axis of the cylinder such that they may follow a path with a radial component. A mid-strut fitting is provided which has a plurality of teeth on an inner circumferential surface. The plurality of teeth engage the helical-filaments in the interface region to provide a mechanical connection. Portions of surface and intermediate layers of the helical-filaments may be removed to expose ends of those filaments in the interface region before mounting the mid-strut fitting on the cylinder.

A composite structural component comprises an elongate member made of a polymer matrix composite material. The elongate member comprises a main portion extending along an axis A and an end portion with an inner surface extending from the main portion to an open end of the member. The composite structural component also comprises an end fitting forming a mechanical joint with the end portion, the end fitting comprising an internal portion positioned captive within the elongate member in contact with the inner surface of the end portion; an external portion positioned in contact with an outer surface of the end portion; and an adjustable fastener extending axially between the internal and external portions to clamp the end portion between the internal and external portions. The inner surface of the end portion in contact with the internal portion extends towards the axis A at an increasing angle to the axis A.

A method of producing a reinforcing bar (Sc) involves impregnating and integrating reinforcing fibers (Fb) with a thermoplastic polymer. The method may include: immersing and passing the reinforcing fibers (Fb), initially in a non-flat bundle form, through a storage tank (2) containing the thermoplastic polymer in a liquid form; flattening the reinforcing fibers (Fb), while being passed (moving) through the storage tank (2) and immersed in the liquid thermoplastic polymer, into a flatter state to cause the liquid thermoplastic polymer to better infiltrate and coat the reinforcing fibers (Fb); and then convergently shaping the flat reinforcing fibers (Fb) infiltrated with the liquid thermoplastic polymer into a non-flat bundle form again while the reinforcing fibers are still immersed in the liquid thermoplastic polymer.

A system for producing rebar includes a pultruding machine configured to receive a flexible rebar preform. The flexible rebar preform includes at least one reinforcement filament, and at least one thermoplastic filament. The at least one reinforcement filament, and the at least one thermoplastic filament are arranged in a selected distribution across a cross-section of the preform. The pultruding machine includes a pulling apparatus, a rebar cutting apparatus, and a bending apparatus. The pultruding machine is configured to heat the flexible rebar preform to a first temperature. The first temperature is greater than or equal to a melt temperature of the thermoplastic filaments. The pulling apparatus is configured to pull the flexible rebar preform through a pultrusion die to form the rebar. The rebar cutting apparatus is configured to cut the rebar at a prespecified length. The bending apparatus is configured to bend the cut rebar to a prespecified bend geometry.

A fishing rod that includes an elongated, tapered rod blank at least a portion of which is quadrilateral in cross section, the quadrilateral portion of the rod blank diminishing in cross-sectional area toward a tip end of the rod blank, the quadrilateral portion of the rod blank comprising a sandwich-structured composite of a core disposed between facings, the core less dense than the facings, the quadrilateral portion of rod blank less stiff in a casting direction than transverse to the casting direction; fishing line guides mounted at intervals along the length of the rod blank; a reel seat mounted at the base end of the rod blank; and a handle mounted at the base end of the rod blank adjacent to the reel seat.

The forming apparatus comprises a feed path for continuously feeding a continuous tow material along a transport direction, a forming device connected to a downstream end of the feed path and adapted to form the continuous tow material into a continuous tubular rod. The forming device comprises a tubular element adapted to allow the continuous tow material to pass through the tubular element to form the continuous tubular rod and a steam generator adapted to generate overheated steam. The steam generator is in fluid connection with the tubular element to provide overheated steam to the continuous tow material. The forming device further comprises several fluid conduits to provide overheated steam from the steam generator to several injection sites arranged along a length of the tubular element, wherein at least one fluid conduit of the several fluid conduits comprises a temperature control unit including a temperature sensor and a temperature influencer.

The forming apparatus comprises a feed path for continuously feeding a continuous tow material along a transport direction, a forming device connected to a downstream end of the feed path and adapted to form the continuous tow material into a continuous tubular rod. The forming device comprises a tubular element adapted to allow the continuous tow material to pass through the tubular element to form the continuous tubular rod and a steam generator adapted to generate overheated steam. The steam generator is in fluid connection with the tubular element to provide overheated steam to the continuous tow material. The forming device further comprises several fluid conduits to provide overheated steam from the steam generator to several injection sites arranged along a length of the tubular element, wherein at least one fluid conduit of the several fluid conduits comprises a temperature control unit including a temperature sensor and a temperature influencer.