The present disclosure relates to a spatio-temporal stimulus responsive foldable structure. The structure may have a substrate having at least a region formed to provide engineered weakness to help facilitate bending or folding of the substrate about the region of engineered weakness. The substrate is formed to have a first shape. A stimulus responsive polymer (SRP) flexure is disposed at the region of engineered weakness. The SRP flexure is responsive to a predetermined stimulus actuation signal to bend or fold in response to exposure to the stimulus actuation signal, to cause the substrate to assume a second shape different from the first shape.

The present disclosure relates to a spatio-temporal stimulus responsive foldable structure. The structure may have a substrate having at least a region formed to provide engineered weakness to help facilitate bending or folding of the substrate about the region of engineered weakness. The substrate is formed to have a first shape. A stimulus responsive polymer (SRP) flexure is disposed at the region of engineered weakness. The SRP flexure is responsive to a predetermined stimulus actuation signal to bend or fold in response to exposure to the stimulus actuation signal, to cause the substrate to assume a second shape different from the first shape.

A vehicle cargo construct includes a floor, a plurality of side wall panels extending from the floor, and an end wall panel extending from the floor between the plurality of side wall panels. The floor has an upper surface and an oppositely opposed lower surface. Each of the plurality of side wall panels has an exterior surface and an oppositely opposed interior surface. The end wall panel has an exterior surface and an oppositely opposed interior surface. Each of the floor, the plurality of side wall panels, and the end wall panel being formed of a composite sandwich panel material formed of an open area core defining a plurality of pores, a surface sheet adhered to a first face of the open area core by a first adhesive layer, and a structural skin adhered to a second face of the open area core by a second adhesive layer.

A vehicle cargo construct includes a floor, a plurality of side wall panels extending from the floor, and an end wall panel extending from the floor between the plurality of side wall panels. The floor has an upper surface and an oppositely opposed lower surface. Each of the plurality of side wall panels has an exterior surface and an oppositely opposed interior surface. The end wall panel has an exterior surface and an oppositely opposed interior surface. Each of the floor, the plurality of side wall panels, and the end wall panel being formed of a composite sandwich panel material formed of an open area core defining a plurality of pores, a surface sheet adhered to a first face of the open area core by a first adhesive layer, and a structural skin adhered to a second face of the open area core by a second adhesive layer.

The disclosure relates to a pleatable nonwoven fabric including greater than 50% by weight of a majority polymer component, based on total weight of the fabric, and a minority polymer component, wherein there is a difference of at least 10° C. in melting point between the majority polymer component and the minority polymer component, and wherein the fabric is arranged in layers with a first layer, a second layer, and a mid-layer positioned between the first layer and the second layer, and wherein the top layer and the bottom layer comprise a plurality of bicomponent fibers comprising both the majority polymer component and the minority polymer component; and wherein the mid-layer comprises monocomponent fibers constructed from either the majority polymer component or the minority polymer component. A method of making the pleatable nonwoven fabric is also provided.

The disclosure relates to a pleatable nonwoven fabric including greater than 50% by weight of a majority polymer component, based on total weight of the fabric, and a minority polymer component, wherein there is a difference of at least 10° C. in melting point between the majority polymer component and the minority polymer component, and wherein the fabric is arranged in layers with a first layer, a second layer, and a mid-layer positioned between the first layer and the second layer, and wherein the top layer and the bottom layer comprise a plurality of bicomponent fibers comprising both the majority polymer component and the minority polymer component; and wherein the mid-layer comprises monocomponent fibers constructed from either the majority polymer component or the minority polymer component. A method of making the pleatable nonwoven fabric is also provided.

It is provided an airbag multilayer complex excellent in flexibility and durability by controlling adhesion between an adhesive layer and a base fabric to a predetermined range, and an airbag using it. This disclosure is an airbag multilayer complex comprising a base fabric and a multilayer film including an outer layer and an adhesive layer that is bonded to one surface of the base fabric. The adhesive strength of the interface between the multilayer film and the base fabric is 5 N/cm or more, the difference in loop stiffness between the airbag multilayer complex and the base fabric is 130 mN/cm or less, the adhesive layer contains a first resin having a hydrogen-bonding capacity, and the difference in Hansen solubility parameter (ΔHSP) between the base fabric and the first resin is 5 MPa.sup.0.5 or less.

An approach to seeker windows for aircraft comprises a window layer comprising an IR transparent material, the window layer comprising a first side and a second side substantially opposite the first side; and a heating layer on the first side or the second side of the window layer, the heating layer configured to apply a heating profile to the window layer to reduce thermal shock imparted to the window layer when the seeker window is exposed to hypersonic flight conditions.

Forming systems and assemblies as disclosed herein comprise a composite material comprising a structural component and a resin component combined with the reinforcing component. A forming element is disposed within the composite material and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than that of the composite material. The forming element is positioned to provide a desired integral structural reinforcement and/or surface feature to the composite. The composite material may comprise one or more passages extending from a surface thereof to the forming element. The composite material may be cured by heat to take a set configuration and then allowed to cool. The cooling of the composite material and the forming element enables the forming element to contract relative to the composite material and become delaminated therefrom to facilitate easy removal, and thereby provide an improved method and assembly for making structural reinforcing features in composite structures.

Forming systems and assemblies as disclosed herein comprise a composite material comprising a structural component and a resin component combined with the reinforcing component. A forming element is disposed within the composite material and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than that of the composite material. The forming element is positioned to provide a desired integral structural reinforcement and/or surface feature to the composite. The composite material may comprise one or more passages extending from a surface thereof to the forming element. The composite material may be cured by heat to take a set configuration and then allowed to cool. The cooling of the composite material and the forming element enables the forming element to contract relative to the composite material and become delaminated therefrom to facilitate easy removal, and thereby provide an improved method and assembly for making structural reinforcing features in composite structures.