The disclosure relates to a composite panel member for an airframe of an aircraft or spacecraft, the composite panel member having a laminated or sandwich structure including: a first outer layer extending over a first side of the panel member; a second outer layer extending over a second side of the panel member; a core layer between the first and second outer layers; and at least one support element configured as an electrical conductor and provided within the core layer between the first and second outer layers. In this regard, the at least one support element extends within the core layer substantially parallel to the first and second outer layers.

A composite structure includes a base structure, a core disposed on the base structure, the core having a non-uniform contour relative to the base structure, a layered cover material disposed on the base structure covering the core, the layered cover material conforming to the non-uniform contour of the core and having at least one overlay ply, each of the at least one overlay ply having at least one slit cut through fibers of the respective overlay ply, and at least one cover ply having a shape that spans the at least one slit, and being configured to transfer a load across the at least one slit.

A lamination head has a material supply drum, a backing layer collection drum, and a backing layer separation assembly. The material supply drum supports a material roll of backed material comprising layup material backed by a backing layer. The backing layer collection drum moves from a collection drum home position to a collection drum engagement position proximate the material supply drum, engage a backing layer leading edge on the material roll, and moves back to the collection drum home position while dispensing a threadable portion of at least the backing layer. The backing layer separation assembly has a backing layer separation device and a backing layer separation mechanism. The backing layer separation device translates from a separation device home position to a separation device engagement position and pulls the threadable portion into proximity to the backing layer separation mechanism for separating the backing layer from the layup material.

A structure is disclosed including a laminate having layers of fibre-reinforced composite material; and a lightning-strike protection (LSP) layer. The LSP layer has an outer face and an inner face opposite to the outer face. A connector has an LSP connection surface which overlaps with, and is electrically connected to, the inner or outer face of the LSP layer. A bore passes through the LSP layer, the laminate and the connector. A fastener secures together the structure to a second structure. Therein the fastener is received in the bore and the connector electrically connects the LSP layer to the fastener.

Products having improved ply bonding, moldability and drape and methods for making those products are described. The methods comprise producing a multiply adhesively bonded product comprising a pattern of uniformly spaced microembossed elements with a bond area of less than about 0.020 inches/sq. inch.

An integrated panel made of interconnected laminates includes stacked first and second metal layers (5, 5, 5) and fibre-reinforced adhesive layers (19) between adjacent metal layers. At the location of the transition from the outer surface (7) of the first outer metal layer (5) to the outer surface (7) of the second outer metal layer (4) is located a filler (11). The panel further includes a cladding layer (14), which includes at least one fibre material layer (15, 24) that extends over the filler (11) and the adjacent outer surface regions (12, 13) of the outer metal layers (5, 4) located on opposite sides and which are adhered to the outer surface regions.

A process for fabricating a three-dimensional, multi-layered fabric product with a moisture barrier is provided. A partially seamed inner lining fabric assembly having at least a two-dimensional shape is laminated with a membrane barrier film having flaps left un-laminated to cover at least one seam. The inner lining fabric assembly is further seamed and flaps of the of the membrane barrier film overlapped into contact with each other and sealed to provide a continuous moisture barrier. A process for fabricating a stretchable section of a garment with a moisture barrier is also provided. At least a section of a garment is formed from fibers arranged in a pattern having a direction of stretch in one direction and a three-dimensional surface texture such that a portion of the fibers protrude above another portion of the fibers. The stretchable section is stretched in the direction of stretch. Segments of a membrane barrier film are adhered to an outer edge of the protruding portion of the fibers while the section is stretched in the direction of stretch, leaving intermediate segments of the barrier film free from adherence to the section. In this way, the intermediate segments of the membrane barrier film include slack that folds up to form ruches when the section is in a relaxed state.

A fluid-filled chamber is provided and includes a first barrier layer, a second barrier layer, a foam structure, and a tensile member. The second barrier layer is secured to the first barrier layer to define an interior void between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer. The interior void contains a predetermined volume of fluid. The foam structure and the tensile member are disposed within the interior void, whereby the tensile member includes a plurality of fibers extending in a first direction between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer.

An elastic laminate is provided including at least one gathered outer facing layer of a fabric and an apertured elastic film attached thereto. The aperture film includes a series of alternating first and second segments that extend continuously along the direction of elasticity. The first segments of the film are substantially devoid of any apertures and the second segments are strewn with apertures of irregular size and shape. The regionally limited and irregular apertures are formed by the controlled rupturing of the film within those segments. The elastic laminate has excellent air-permeability and elastic properties.

Provided is a method of manufacturing a metal catalyst support including: transferring a plate member of the same size along a transfer unit; aligning the plate member so that a front portion of the plate member is located at a start point when the plate member reaches a set position; forming a corrugated plate by alternately forming a first corrugated portion and a second corrugated portion on the plate member which is aligned at the start point; and laminating the fabricated corrugated plates and the flat plates alternately in a case.