A mandrel suitable for supporting an airfoil preform includes a first piece extending along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, and a second piece in physical contact with the first piece at first interface region and extending along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. The first piece is formed from a first material, and the second piece is formed from a second material.

A mandrel suitable for supporting an airfoil preform includes a first piece extending along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel, and a second piece in physical contact with the first piece at first interface region and extending along the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. The first piece is formed from a first material, and the second piece is formed from a second material.

A pocket former includes a pocket former body and a keyway former. The pocket former is adapted to form a void in a concrete member allowing access to the stressing end of a post-tensioning tendon. The keyway former is adapted to form a keyway in the concrete to allow grout to be more securely retained in the void.

A pocket former may include a pocket former body, the pocket former body having an outer surface. The pocket former may further include a collapsible element, the collapsible element formed on the outer surface of the pocket former body. The collapsible element may extend radially outwardly from the pocket former body.

A post sleeve provides a substantially permanent base for supporting a post for a fence or sign, and from which one post can be removed and replaced with another post. The sleeve includes a concrete body that is poured on site, using a sleeve core prepositioned in the post hole, and around which wet concrete is poured. After the concrete is cured, the core is removed, leaving a post sleeve cavity configured to receive a post. The core can be rigid, or can include a flexible shell and stiffener. A preformed post sleeve top can be attached to the sleeve core and positioned therewith in the post hole, to become a permanent part of the post sleeve, once the concrete cures. A drain is attached to the core, and remains in the sleeve when the core is removed, and can be a percolation chamber, or passage extending below the sleeve.

A method and apparatus for forming a part having a cavity with a complex contour is presented. The molding apparatus comprises a mold cavity and a molding insert. The mold cavity is formed by a first mold portion and a second mold portion. The molding insert is within the mold cavity, wherein the molding insert has a forming surface, and wherein the molding insert is configured to move in more than one direction relative to the first mold portion

A pocket former may include a pocket former body, the pocket former body having an outer surface. The pocket former may further include a collapsible element, the collapsible element formed on the outer surface of the pocket former body. The collapsible element may extend radially outwardly from the pocket former body.

A method for moulding a part, including the following steps: placing at least one pre-stressing device in a first element; placing the first element facing a second element; pre-stressing the at least one pre-stressing device; introducing ultra-high performance fibre concrete into the reception volume; controlling gradual modification of one of the elements; and removing the tubular element from the mould.

A method for casting a hollow core concrete product with a substantially horizontal slipform casting process, where concrete mass is fed at least in one feeding stage through a limited cross-section (5, 6, 7) moving progressively along with the cast, and at least one core is formed in the concrete product to be cast with a core forming member (4), wherein the thickness of webs between the cores of the product to be cast are changed during the slipform casting process by changing the width of the at least one core forming member (4). The invention also relates to such an apparatus and a core forming member.

A method for casting a hollow core concrete product with a substantially horizontal slipform casting process, where concrete mass is fed at least in one feeding stage through a limited cross-section (5, 6, 7) moving progressively along with the cast, and at least one core is formed in the concrete product to be cast with a core forming member (4), wherein the thickness of webs between the cores of the product to be cast are changed during the slipform casting process by changing the width of the at least one core forming member (4). The invention also relates to such an apparatus and a core forming member.