A method of determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of adjacently positioned, helical windings of composite tape has the steps of: (a) scanning the surface of a layer of adjacently positioned, helical windings to generate scanning information; (b) using the scanning information to locate gap(s) between adjacent windings and to determine the number of gaps and characteristic dimensions of each gap in the layer; and (c) generating a calculated void volume of the layer, using the number of gaps and the characteristic dimensions of each gap for the layer. The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus for determining a void volume during manufacture of a composite pipe formed of concentric layers of helically wound composite tape.

The present embodiment relates to a composite fibre structure (100) and a method (200) of manufacturing the composite fibre structure (200). The composite fibre structure (100) includes a core (102) and an outer layer (108) enclosing the core (102). The core (102) further includes at least one of a permanent core (104) and a temporary core (106). The permanent core (104) is 3-D printed along with the temporary core (106) to form the core structure (102). The permanent core (104) and the temporary core (106) are placed alternatively along the section, extending throughout the length of the composite fibre structure (100), or the permanent core (104) and temporary core (102) can be alternate along the length of the composite fibre structure (100). The layer (108), made of a reinforcement material, wraps the core (102) to form the composite fibre structure (100).

A method for manufacturing a fiber reinforced structure includes the following. A mandrel of a first material comprises a hollow interior and an aperture that allows a fluid to enter the interior. A layer of a second material provided on the mandrel includes an uncured resin and fibers. The mandrel and the layer are placed in a mold cavity formed by a mold. A pressurized fluid is introduced into the interior of the mandrel via the aperture to generate a force acting to expand the mandrel outward. The mandrel is heated so that it becomes deformable and expand outward to press the layer against the mold. The layer is heated so that it cures. The mandrel is then heated to a temperature above its melting point of the first material so that it melts, after which it is removed.

A manufacturing method of a tank comprises winding a fiber on a liner by hoop winding. The winding comprises: forming an (N+1)-th layer such that a position closer to a center of the liner by a first predetermined distance along an axis line direction of the liner from an end in the axis line direction of an N-th layer is set to position of an end in the axis line direction of the (N+1)-th layer with respect to a direction perpendicular to the axis line direction; and winding the fiber on the N-th layer to provide one winding turn of the fiber, such that a pressing force of pressing the N-th layer in the axis line direction by the fiber is equal to or smaller than a total frictional force in an area in the N-th layer on an edge side in the axis line direction of a fiber winding position.

A technique for manufacturing a millable bridge plug for plugging of a wellbore during, for example, a fracturing operation. A bridge plug is constructed with an obstructed internal passage. The obstructed internal passage is formed by winding a composite material about a wrapping mandrel having at least one cylindrical part and a solid part coupled thereto. The cylindrical part is removed after a curing process leaving a mandrel with a plugged internal passageway upon which a seal member combined with a plurality of slips for engaging a surrounding wall, e.g. a surrounding wellbore wall, may be coupled.

A fiber-reinforced resin composite configured to be to be used for a vehicle body structure has a cylindrical shape and a longitudinal direction. The fiber-reinforced resin composite includes first fibers and second fibers. The first fibers are disposed along an axial direction of the cylindrical shape. The second fibers are wound over an entire circumferential surface along a direction intersecting the axial direction of the cylindrical shape. The number of the first fibers per unit area in a tensile surface that is to mainly receive tensile stress upon a collision of a vehicle body is larger than the number of the first fibers per unit area in a compressive surface that is to mainly receive compressive stress upon the collision of the vehicle body.

The invention relates to a method for the manufacture of a leak-tight vessel comprising a cylindrical mantle and two dome-shaped ends for the storage of a gas and/or a liquid. The method comprises providing an inner barrier layer comprising a heat-sealable thermoplastic material and an outer shell layer comprising a fiber-reinforced heat-sealable thermoplastic material, as well as an end-fitting. Further, the method comprises providing an inner layer by winding a heat-sealable thermoplastic filament material and forming an outer layer in two steps: first providing around the mantle of the vessel a fabric of a fiber-reinforced heat-sealable material, whereby the width of the fabric diminishes with successive windings of the fabric around the mantle, followed by winding a fiber-reinforced heat-sealable plastic film over the fabric around the mantle and the dome-shaped endings.

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.

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.

A mandrel for manufacturing a fiber reinforced resin vessel by a filament winding process includes: a tubular part; and a pair of end parts joined to respective axial ends of the tubular part. The tubular part and the end parts are each made of a molded product of a material including pulp and a starch-based binder.