A reinforcing article (10, 100, 200) includes a porous substrate layer (105, 205) and a plurality of parallel first continuous fiber elements (12, 114, 212) spaced apart from each other and extending along a first direction and fixed to the porous substrate (105, 205). Each first continuous fiber element (12, 114, 212) includes a plurality of parallel and co-extending continuous fibers (22, 122, 222) embedded in a thermoplastic resin (24, 124, 224).

A composite structure including a composite body having an outer surface, wherein the composite body is elongated along a span axis, and a detection layer connected to the outer surface of the composite body, the detection layer including a plurality of strips, wherein each strip comprises a plurality of glass fibers embedded in a matrix material, is elongated along a detection axis, the detection axis being substantially aligned with the span axis, and is spaced a non-zero distance apart from adjacent strips such that a discontinuity is defined between adjacent strips.

The plurality of pieces of low density cellular material, such as foam plastics, form a core panel having opposite side surfaces and with adjacent pieces having opposing edge surfaces extending between the side surfaces. Sheets of flexible material, such as veils or mats or scrim, are adhesively attached to the side surfaces, and portions of one sheet extend between the opposing adjacent edge surfaces for limiting flexing of the panel. The pieces may be tapered, and portions of the one sheet may project between the edge surfaces either partially or fully to form double wall webs. The webs may have flanges adhesively attached to the other sheet on the opposite side. One sheet may also be stretchable in areas not adhesively attached to the pieces to provide for curving the panel from a planar position maintained by the sheet on the opposite side.

An apparatus for molding a part includes a plunger cavity, a plunger, and a mold cavity, wherein the plunger is oriented out-of-plane with respect to a major surface of the mold cavity, and first and second vents couples to respective first and second portions of the mold cavity. In a method, resin and fiber are forced into the mold cavity from a plunger cavity, and at least some of the fibers and resin are preferentially flowed to certain region in the mold cavity via the use of vents.

A radome for housing a radar system comprises a plurality of interconnected curved radome thermoplastic composite material panels, each curved radome thermoplastic composite material panel having a plurality of interconnecting edges, a foam core, an inner skin, an outer skin, and a plurality of three-dimensional fiber bundles tying the inner skin and the outer skin to each other through the foam core, inhibiting delamination. The radome includes a hydrophobic exterior surface that is self-cleaning and requires zero maintenance for 25 years.

A system is provided for producing components of composite material, and especially elongate or continuous components of fiber-reinforced polymer. The system comprises a winding mechanism for winding an elongate sheet of composite material about a winding axis that is at an angle to a perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongate sheet so as to form a helical coil of wound sheet a mechanism is provided for drawing or conveying the helical coil of wound sheet along a process path, wherein the process path is preferably substantially parallel to the winding axis. A shaping mechanism forms or shapes the coil of wound sheet as it is drawn or conveyed along the process path. A corresponding method of producing a composite component is provided.

A method for making a crush can for a vehicle which has an internal moulded structure can include providing a crush can with a hole, filling the hole in the crush can with a fibre-reinforced material and compression moulding the fibre-reinforced material using the internal shape of the crush can as an outer shell of a split mould.

The invention is directed to a vehicle pneumatic tire wherein strengthening plies are provided with steel cords running parallel to one another. The belt plies can be used, as isolated electrically conductive plates, for supplying electricity to electrical consumers such as sensors and actuators installed in the tire. Adjacent belt plies can be connected by puncture sensors to be able to identify damage to the belt caused by metallic parts penetrating from the outside, such as nails, on the basis of a change in the electrical resistance.

An impregnation system and a method for impregnating a textile fabric for composite components are described. A matrix 2 can be applied to a textile fabric 1 in such a way that the matrix 2 penetrates it at least partially and/or at least on one side. A first and a second endless belt 1 each designed as a belt loop are provided for the impregnation system. Between the first 4 and the second belt loop 5, the textile fabric 1 can guided on the mutually facing surfaces 6 of the belt loops and can be impregnated there. The deflection rollers 7 are provided in the respective belt loop 4, 5 of the respective endless belts at the deflection areas, with at least one roller being adjustable in the direction of the mutually facing surfaces 6 of the belt loops 4, 5. By adjusting the rollers 8 in the y direction, the wrap angle and thus the pressure exerted on the textile fabric during impregnation is controlled.

A method for producing a component from a fiber composite. A number of layers of a dry fibrous material are stacked to form a pile, the pile is covered by a thermoplastic film in a gas-tight manner, the inner space occupied by the pile within the film is pumped dry and the layers are fixed to form a preform that is stable during transport, the preform is reshaped, a liquid thermosetting material is inserted into the inner space by infiltration of the fibrous material, and the preform is hardened with the infiltrated fibrous material to form the finished component, the film binding permanently as the surface. The invention also relates to a component produced in such a way, and to a corresponding preform. The production method provides a process-integrated surface finishing of the fiber composite. The surface properties are created by the bound thermoplastic film.