According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow structure body having a hollow structure, in which a first shaped product constituted by a first fiber-reinforced resin material containing first reinforcing fibers and a first matrix resin and a second shaped product constituted by a second fiber-reinforced resin material containing second reinforcing fibers and a second matrix resin are combined, wherein in an arbitrary cross section in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the hollow structure, a ratio Sc/St between compressive strength Sc of a structure in the first shaped product and tensile strength St of a structure in the second shaped product satisfies formula (1):
(σc/σt)*(Hc/Ht)<(Sc/St)<(σt/σc)*(Hc/Ht)  formula (1).

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hollow structure body having a hollow structure, in which a first shaped product constituted by a first fiber-reinforced resin material containing first reinforcing fibers and a first matrix resin and a second shaped product constituted by a second fiber-reinforced resin material containing second reinforcing fibers and a second matrix resin are combined, wherein in an arbitrary cross section in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the hollow structure, a ratio Sc/St between compressive strength Sc of a structure in the first shaped product and tensile strength St of a structure in the second shaped product satisfies formula (1):
(σc/σt)*(Hc/Ht)<(Sc/St)<(σt/σc)*(Hc/Ht)  formula (1).

An apparatus and method for the automated manufacturing of three-dimensional (3D) composite-based objects is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a material feeder, a printer, a powder system, a transfer system, and optionally a fuser. The method comprises inserting a stack of substrate sheets into a material feeder, transferring a sheet of the stack from the material feeder to a printer, depositing fluid on the single sheet while the sheet rests on a printer platen, transferring the sheet from the printer to a powder system, depositing powder onto the single sheet such that the powder adheres to the areas of the sheet onto which the printer has deposited fluid, removing any powder that did not adhere to the sheet, optionally melting the powder on the substrate, and repeating the steps for as many additional sheets as required for making a specified 3D object.

A vacuum bagging diaphragm assembly used in forming a component from composite material includes a first sheet of a first material. Also included is a second sheet of a second material for positioning between a three dimensional forming tool and the first sheet. A modulus of elasticity of the second material is greater than a modulus of elasticity of the first material. A method includes a step of positioning a composite laminate material between a first sheet of a first material and a second sheet of a second material. The second material has a modulus of elasticity greater than a modulus of elasticity of the first material. The method further includes a step of positioning the second material of the second sheet in overlying relationship to a three dimensional forming tool with the second material positioned between the three dimensional forming tool and the composite material.

Structural members having enhanced load bearing capacity per unit mass include a skeleton structure formed from strips of material. Notches may be placed on the strips and a weave of tensile material placed in the notches and woven around the skeleton structure. At least one pair of structural members can be jointed together to provide very strong joints due to a weave patterns of tensile material, such as Kevlar, that distributes stress throughout the structure, preventing stress from concentrating in one area. Methods of manufacturing such structural members include molding material into skeletons of desired cross section using a matrix of molding segments. Total catastrophic failures in composite materials are substantially avoided and the strength to weight ratio of structures can be increased.

Structural members having enhanced load bearing capacity per unit mass include a skeleton structure formed from strips of material. Notches may be placed on the strips and a weave of tensile material placed in the notches and woven around the skeleton structure. At least one pair of structural members can be jointed together to provide very strong joints due to a weave patterns of tensile material, such as Kevlar, that distributes stress throughout the structure, preventing stress from concentrating in one area. Methods of manufacturing such structural members include molding material into skeletons of desired cross section using a matrix of molding segments. Total catastrophic failures in composite materials are substantially avoided and the strength to weight ratio of structures can be increased.

An incremental forming machine and a process are disclosed that comprise selecting a blank and selecting a stylus that has a tip at one end. The stylus may be heated to a desired temperature before contacting the blank with the stylus to change a characteristic of the blank or part. The stylus apparatus may include a tip on an end of a shaft and a resistance heating element disposed inside the tip. Alternatively, the stylus apparatus may include an induction heating coil disposed around the tip. The tip of the stylus may have a rotatable ball that engages the blank or part.

An incremental forming machine and a process are disclosed that comprise selecting a blank and selecting a stylus that has a tip at one end. The stylus may be heated to a desired temperature before contacting the blank with the stylus to change a characteristic of the blank or part. The stylus apparatus may include a tip on an end of a shaft and a resistance heating element disposed inside the tip. Alternatively, the stylus apparatus may include an induction heating coil disposed around the tip. The tip of the stylus may have a rotatable ball that engages the blank or part.

A resin composite material containing a thermoplastic resin, a powder containing a polysaccharide, the powder being dispersed in the thermoplastic resin, and a monosaccharide; and a resin formed body obtained using the same.

Land vehicles, modular systems for forming monocoques of land vehicles, and methods of forming monocoques of land vehicles using modular systems are envisioned. In certain embodiments, the land vehicles are provided as delivery vehicles and/or utility vehicles. A land vehicle includes a monocoque supporting a plurality of wheels to permit movement of the vehicle relative to an underlying surface in use of the land vehicle.