A method and apparatus for constructing a tubular assembly 40 comprising an inner portion (24) and a further portion (23) surrounding the inner portion. The inner portion (24) comprises reinforcement (37) and the further portion (23) being formed from a strip (50) of material comprising two opposed longitudinal marginal side portions (53). The apparatus comprises an assembly station (220) comprising a wall (253). The apparatus comprises means for advancing the inner portion (21) along a first path (231) extending passed the wall (253), and means for advancing the strip (50) along a second path (232) and causing the strip to encircle the wall (253) and thereby wrap about and surround the inner portion (21). The apparatus further comprises means (321) for introducing resinous binder into the reinforcement (37) as the strip (50) is being wrapped about the inner portion (21).

A gas turbine fan casing made of composite material with a fibrous reinforcement includes a plurality of superimposed turns of a strip-shaped fibrous texture having a three-dimensional weaving between a plurality of layers of warp yarns and a plurality of layers of weft yarns, the fibrous reinforcement being densified by a matrix. The fibrous texture includes at least one lateral section of variable thickness in which the weft yarns have a size or a count different from the size or the count of the weft yarns of the plurality of layers of weft yarns present in the remainder of the fibrous texture.

A composite yarn fabric which can be suitably used as a material of a fiber-reinforced resin molded article is provided. The composite yarn fabric is obtained by weaving using composite yarns as at least one of the warp or the weft, the composite yarns obtained by doubling and twisting inorganic multifilament yarns and thermoplastic resin yarns. The inorganic multifilament yarns have a mass of 10 to 65 tex, monofilaments constituting the inorganic multifilament yarns have a fiber diameter of 6.6 to 9.5 μm, a melt flow rate of a thermoplastic resin constituting the thermoplastic resin yarns is 34 to 100 g/10 minutes, and a ratio of a mass of the inorganic multifilament yarns to a total mass of the composite yarns is 40 to 90% by mass.

Presented are hybrid metal and fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite wheels for vehicle wheel assemblies, methods for making/using such wheels, and motor vehicles equipped with such wheels. A wheel for a motor vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel face with multiple spokes that are circumferentially spaced about and project radially outward from a central hub. The central hub rotatably attaches to the vehicle's body, e.g., via a corner module. The wheel face is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from an FRP material. A wheel barrel, which circumscribes the wheel face, includes an annular rim that mounts thereon an inflatable tire. The wheel barrel is fabricated, e.g., as a one-piece structure, from a metallic material. Multiple overmold through holes and/or inset tabs are circumferentially spaced about the annular rim. The FRP material extends through and/or surrounds the overmold through holes/inset tabs and thereby mounts the wheel face to the wheel barrel.

A method produces a fiber composite component for a motor vehicle. The method provides a semifinished fiber composite blank, wherein the semifinished fiber composite blank includes reinforcing fibers and a matrix material. The semifinished fiber composite blank is arranged between a first membrane and a second membrane. The semifinished fiber composite blank is shaped into a fiber composite molding by pressing the semifinished fiber composite blank together with the first membrane and the second membrane via a pressing device, and the fiber composite molding is consolidated.

A method and apparatus for constructing a tubular assembly 40 comprising an inner portion (24) and a further portion (23) surrounding the inner portion. The inner portion (24) comprises reinforcement (37) and the further portion (23) being formed from a strip (50) of material comprising two opposed longitudinal marginal side portions (53). The apparatus comprises an assembly station (220) comprising a wall (253). The apparatus comprises means for advancing the inner portion (21) along a first path (231) extending passed the wall (253), and means for advancing the strip (50) along a second path (232) and causing the strip to encircle the wall (253) and thereby wrap about and surround the inner portion (21). The apparatus further comprises means (321) for introducing resinous binder into the reinforcement (37) as the strip (50) is being wrapped about the inner portion (21).

A preform for fiber rein-forced composite material producing includes a thermosetting resin composition and a dry reinforcing fiber base, the thermosetting resin composition characterized in that when subjected to dynamic viscoelasticity measurement at a traction period of 0.5 Hz while heating at a rate of 1.5° C./min, a temperature change ΔT is 45° C. or less as complex viscosity η* decreases from 1×10.sup.7 Pa.Math.s to 1×10.sup.1 Pa.Math.s.

Methods and systems that can produce light weight reinforced thermoplastic articles are described. In some embodiments, a method includes heating and pressing a core layer and then cooling and pressing the core layer to maintain the thickness of the core layer during cooling. Automotive articles, building articles and recreational vehicle articles that can be produced using the methods and systems are also described.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to composite laminate structures including a polymer layer having sp.sup.2 carbon-containing material and improved heat release properties, and methods of making the same.

This specification discloses an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture has at least one structural blank and at least one guide. The structural blank has a plurality of oriented fiber plies in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide has a plurality of random dispersed fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide is affixed to the structural blank by injection molding and over molding the guide onto the structural blank. The article of manufacture can take a number of forms for use in industries such as aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trains or watercraft.