A sensing apparatus includes a sheath, a central member disposed in the sheath, at least one optical fiber disposed with the central member, and a film adhesive disposed between the central member and the sheath, the film adhesive provided in one or more sheets or strips and disposed in one or more layers between the central member and the sheath, and the film adhesive attached to the sheath.

This disclosure relates generally to corrugated pipe, and more particularly to corrugated pipe with an outer wrap. In one embodiment, a pipe includes an axially extended bore defined by a corrugated outer wall having axially adjacent, outwardly-extending corrugation crests, separated by corrugation valleys. The pipe also includes an outer wrap applied to the outer wall. The outer wrap may include fibers and plastic. The outer wrap may span the corrugation crests producing a smooth outer surface.

Disclosed are a method for producing a laminate including a step of laminating a resin impregnated fiber reinforced composition layer on a metal member, wherein the method includes a step of forming a resin coating on the metal member and a step of laminating a resin impregnated fiber reinforced composition layer containing a resin impregnated fiber reinforced composition containing (I) 20 to 80% by mass of a polymer having a melting point and/or a glass transition temperature of 50 to 300° C., and (C) 20 to 80% by mass of a reinforcing fiber
(provided that the sum of the component (I) and the component (C) is taken as 100% by mass) via the above resin coating; and a laminate obtained by the method.

A storage vessel can include a shell that is formed by fibers wound about an axis and infused with a resin matrix. The resin matrix can include metal nanoparticles coated with a polymer and distributed within a resin. The nanoparticles provide low coefficients of thermal expansion, and the polymer coatings enhance their bonding with the resin The shells of such storage vessels provide increased tensile strength and modulus at both room and cryogenic temperatures. Such improvements stem from the higher interfacial residual thermal stress at cryogenic temperature due to their low thermal expansion properties, which in turn promotes crack branching that increases the energy dissipation of the matrix.

A repair wrap for repairing or strengthening an item. The repair wrap includes a fabric, where the fabric includes one or more fibers. The repair wrap also includes a film disposed laterally within the fabric. The repair wrap further includes a hardening material disposed in the fabric. The fabric is configured to be wrapped around a portion of an item. Curing the hardening material is configured to form a shell about the portion of the item.

A method of manufacturing a reinforced pipe (7) comprising: wrapping a pipe (1) in reinforcing tape (2) to form a wrapped pipe having an outer circumference consisting of a first circumferential portion (4) and a second circumferential portion (6); and passing the first circumferential portion (4) over one or more heating elements (3) to fuse the reinforcing tape (2) of said first circumferential portion (4); wherein: the first circumferential portion (4) is between 1% and 50% of the outer circumference; and the second circumferential portion (6) is not passed over a heating element (3) and is not fused. The method is advantageous in that it can provide reinforced pipes (7) in a simpler and cheaper way because it is not essential that the entirety of the outer circumference of the reinforced pipe (7) is fused. A reinforced pipe (7) produced according to the method of the present invention is also provided.

A composite medical balloon includes a base balloon with first and second tapered portions (108) and a barrel portion (106) therebetween. The base balloon includes one or more fiber layers. A hybrid layer is applied over the base balloon, such as over the fiber layer. The hybrid layer includes a tube (70) for covering the barrel portion (106) and a spiral wrapping (80) for covering one or both of the first and second tapered portions (108). Related methods of forming of such a balloon are also disclosed.

An apparatus and method for consolidating a pipe that has been wrapped with reinforcing tape, is provided. The apparatus comprises two or more pipe consolidation devices, each having a first end, a second end, and comprising: first and second support members arranged at the first end and having a gap therebetween; and an optional third support member at the second end. Each device further comprises a peripheral band that extends around the first, second, and optionally the third support members and is substantially unsupported in the gap between the first and second support members. The apparatus additionally comprises a mounting plate having a central aperture, and two or more of the devices mounted on the mounting plate such that the first end of each device is arranged bearing against a pipe extending through the central aperture. A method of manufacturing reinforced pipe is also provided.

Methods and manufactures disclosed herein generally relate to a tubular composite (TCS) structure composed of multiple layers of sealing, reinforcement, sensing, protection and interspatial injected materials.

A device for winding a reinforcing strip onto a repair length on either side of a portion to be repaired of a pipe, including: a carriage bearing a reel holder and a reel, means for rotating the carriage around the pipe and for translating same along the longitudinal axis of the pipe so that the strip is wound around the pipe in the form of a helix, means for reversing the direction of translation movement of the carriage so that, at each change of direction, the carriage moves in a direction opposite to the previous one and a layer of reinforcing strip is wound around the pipe, overlapping the previous layer. The means for translating the carriage include a conveying chain and the reversing means are actuated automatically without the intervention of an operator.