Disclosed is a method for stiffening plates for ship walls. At least one elongate profile member of laminated composite material and having a transverse cross-section of a predetermined shape over the length thereof is pre-manufactured, the profile member being rigid. Then, a panel including laminated composite materials at least on the surface of at least one of the two main surfaces thereof is used, and the at least one pre-manufactured profile member is assembled and attached together onto one of the main surfaces of the panel. The main surface of the panel receives the profile member including laminated composite material. The profile member has a transverse cross-section with three continuous portions: two flanges having substantially straight cross-sections and interconnected by a web. The flanges and the web in transverse cross-section are supported by separate planes, the plane of the web intersecting the two planes, supporting the flanges, at 90.

The invention relates to a method for connecting two fibre-reinforced plastic components, comprising the following steps: producing a first fibre-reinforced plastic component, wherein a fabric made of fibrous matting is provided, which is impregnated with a resin-curing agent mixture, which is then subsequently cured, wherein the part of the surface of the first fibre-reinforced plastic component, which is to be later adhered to the second fibre-reinforced plastic component (hereinafter also referred to as joining surface), is masked with an adhesive strip before the impregnation of the fibrous matting with the resin-curing agent mixture; producing a second fibre-reinforced plastic component using the above steps, wherein the part of the surface of the second fibre-reinforced plastic component, which is to be later adhered to the first fibre-reinforced plastic component, is also masked with an adhesive strip before the impregnation of the fibrous matting with the resin-curing agent mixture; removing the adhesive strips from the two finished fibre-reinforced plastic components; bringing the two joining surfaces in contact; introducing a resin-curing agent mixture between the two joining surfaces; curing the resin-curing agent mixture, wherein the adhesive strip has a carrier film, on one side of which an adhesive mass, in particular self-adhesive mass is applied, and wherein the carrier film consists of fluoropolymers, polyethylene polymers, undrawn polypropylenes or of metal, and the adhesive mass is an acrylate or silicon adhesive mass.

A method of fabricating a composite joint from a first cured composite component (13) and a second cured composite component (14), the first and second cured composite components (13, 14) comprising fiber elements embedded in a thermoset resin matrix; the method comprising the steps of providing an adhesive (15) on at least one of the first and/or second composite components (13, 14); forming a joint region between the first and second composite component by bringing the first and second composite component into contact with each other with the adhesive (15) therebetween; applying a force to the joint region (16, 17); and heating the first composite component in the joint region to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the thermoset resin matrix of the first composite component.

An apparatus includes a first thermoset layer that includes a first fibrous material embedded in a first thermoset matrix. The apparatus also includes a second thermoset layer that includes a second fibrous material embedded in a second thermoset matrix. The second thermoset layer is coupled to the first thermoset layer to form a joint. Further, a gap is defined between the first thermoset layer and the second thermoset layer. The apparatus also includes a thermoplastic filler that is made from a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic filler is positioned within the gap.

A mat unit is formed from at least two layers ultrasonically welded together. Each layer is individually formed from non-vinyl nontoxic thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material. In ultrasonically joining the two layers together, there is no need to use additional materials, such as adhesive (i.e., chemical attachment) or stitched thread (i.e., mechanical attachment) to form the joint/weld point. Once formed from the two layers, the mat unit has four quadrants and a plurality of longitudinal ribs integrally formed in the first layer positioned in the first and third quadrants, and a plurality of transverse ribs integrally formed in the first layer positioned in the second and fourth quadrants. Additionally, there are a plurality of longitudinal ribs integrally formed in the second layer positioned in the second and fourth quadrants, and a plurality of transverse ribs integrally formed in the second layer positioned in the first and third quadrants.

A resin-rich peel ply that does not leave behind residual fibers after peeling and can work well with different resin-based composite substrates. The resin-rich peel ply is composed of a woven fabric impregnated with a resin matrix different from the resin matrix of the composite substrate. The peel ply is designed such that, upon manual removal of the peel ply from the composite substrate's surface, a thin film of the peel ply resin remains on the composite substrate's surface to create a bondable surface capable of bonding with another composite substrate, but no fibrous material from the woven fabric remains on the same surface.

Methods and apparatus for tooling in layered structures for increased joint performance are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes placing a tool onto a first substrate to define an impression in the first substrate, curing the first substrate, removing the tool from the first substrate to define a joint interface corresponding to the impression, and coupling, at the joint interface, the first substrate to a second substrate.

A mat unit includes a plurality of gaps defined by a first layer that are in open communication with gaps defined by a second layer so as to permit debris to fall entirely through both gaps to pass completely through the mat unit. The mat unit is part of an omnidirectional mat cleaning system that includes a first direction of travel above the mat unit extending through a door opening defined by a building structure. A different second direction of travel is above the mat unit extending through the door opening or another door opening defined by the building structure. The mat unit is installed on a floor adjacent the door opening. The mat unit cleans shoes regardless of the direction of travel traveled above the mat unit.

A method for manufacturing a shell element reinforced with support elements comprises providing a skin element that has an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, providing a first support element that has an attaching side and a free side opposite the attaching side, attaching the first support element on the skin element such that the attaching side of the first support element faces the inner surface of the skin element. A first recess is introduced into the first support element that proceeds from the free side of the first support element and extends transversely to the first axis. A second support element is provided that has a support side and a front side opposite the support side. The second support element is inserted into the first recess of the first support element such that the support side faces the inner surface of the skin element.

A method of manufacturing a power transmission belt includes: molding and vulcanizing an endless tension member layer in which a cord extending in a belt length direction is embedded; molding and vulcanizing a rubber member for a compressed rubber layer; and bonding together the tension member layer that has been vulcanized and the rubber member, that has been vulcanized, for the compressed rubber layer.