A method of forming a hollow spar for an aerofoil includes forming a sandwich structure having a first structural layer, a second structural layer and a cellular core layer located in between the first structural layer and the second structural layer. At least part of the sandwich structure is removed at intervals corresponding to one or more corner locations, and the sandwich structure is folded at the one or more corner locations to define a hollow space and form the spar. A chordwise extending rib section for an aerofoil has a substantially planar web with a chordwise length; and a reinforcement strip attached to an edge of the web over substantially the majority of the chordwise length.

There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a fan blade for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising: providing a root insert comprising quasi-isotropic short fibre reinforced resin, providing a first sub-laminate of a fibre-reinforcement pre-form for the fan blade on a first mould surface, placing the root insert on the first sub-laminate at a position corresponding to a root of the fan blade, providing a second sub-laminate of the pre-form over the root insert and the first-sub-laminate, so that the root insert is at an intermediate position between the first and second sub-laminates; and applying heat and pressure to form the pre-form.

A method of making a waveguiding optical component includes processing a polymer optical material to form a billet having an axis of light transmission and having residual stress maintaining a transverse extent of the billet; placing the billet into a mold, the mold being configured to constrain transverse expansion of the billet according to a desired shape of the waveguiding optical component; and heating the billet in the mold to induce relaxation of the residual stress and corresponding transverse expansion of the billet, thereby forming the billet into the waveguiding optical component with the desired shape. An alternative method begins with a collection of individual canes or fiber segments which are fused during the heating process, bypassing a separate process of forming a billet.

A laminated body includes an innermost sealant layer formed of a polyethylene-based resin, a base material layer formed of a polyethylene-based resin, and an outermost heat-resistant layer formed on an outer surface of the base material layer. A package body includes a folding member. At least the folding member of the package body is formed of the laminated body.

A method of manufacturing a fan blade for a gas turbine engine. The method includes providing a compression mould having an internal mould surface corresponding to an outer profile of a fan blade, providing opposing first and second laminates to form a shell corresponding to the mould surface, each laminate comprising a lay-up of plies of fibre reinforcement material, applying a core material comprising quasi-isotropic short fibre reinforced resin in the compression mould so that with the compression mould in a moulding configuration the core material is enclosed by the shell, the core material and the shell forming a pre-form for the fan blade, applying pressure to compress the pre-form so that it conforms to the mould surface, and applying heat to cure the pre-form.

A method of manufacturing a composite fan blade with an outer part and a core includes laying up a plurality of continuous plies to achieve a stack, placing the core on a central portion of the stack of continuous plies to achieve an unfolded preform; folding the contin-uous plies about the core, such that the central portion of the stack folds about the core and the first portion is superimposed to the second portion, to achieve a folded preform; apply-ing pressure to the folded preform to achieve a consolidated curved folded preform; curing the consolidated curved folded preform to achieve the composite fan blade.

The multilayer container includes a container body having a multilayer structure and a multilayer head of the container. The multilayer body of the container has at least one barrier layer connected, on one side, to at least one thermoplastic layer and heat sealed in a longitudinal overlapping joint formed of the edges of these layers. The body has its external surface covered with a polymeric coating, and the multilayer head of the container includes at least one non-metallic barrier layer connected, on one side, to at least one thermoplastic layer and is wholly extruded in the co-extrusion process. The essence of the invention is also a method for producing such a container.

A duct that, in cross section, has one or more rounded portions is disclosed together with a method and a machine for producing it. The duct can be made from rigid foam panels with a facing on at east one side of the panels. A crimping element is used to form several substantially parallel indentations or crimps on a faced side of a panel, without breaching the facing, so that the crimped panel can be manipulated to form a section of duct with the crimps extending longitudinally. Depending on the number of crimps, the duct will appear more or less round in cross section although the crimped foam panels can be manipulated to have cross sections of different shapes such as oval. Adjacent duct sections may be joined, for example, with tape or bands, several of which are described.

The multilayer container includes a container body having a multilayer structure and a multilayer head of the container. The multilayer body of the container has at least one barrier layer connected, on one side, to at least one thermoplastic layer and heat sealed in a longitudinal overlapping joint formed of the edges of these layers. The body has its external surface covered with a polymeric coating, and the multilayer head of the container includes at least one non-metallic barrier layer connected, on one side, to at least one thermoplastic layer and is wholly extruded in the co-extrusion process. The essence of the invention is also a method for producing such a container.

The invention relates to a foil tape (10) for sealing joints between structural elements (30, 31) which are joined to one another, for example in house-building between masonry and a door or window jamb, wherein the foil tape (10) has a functional membrane (1), a textile (4) joined, preferably all-over, to the functional membrane (1) on a top side or an underside, and at least in certain areas an adhesive layer (2) applied in certain areas to that side of the membrane (1) which is averted from the textile (4), wherein the foil tape (10) is folded to produce a folded body (20), so that sections of the textile (4) lie on top of one another at least in certain areas, the sections of the textile (4) lying on top of one another being welded to one another partially and in particular in a punctiform pattern by supplying energy to the folded body (20).