A composite structure of a cargo body and a method of making the same are disclosed. The composite structure includes at least one electrical grid embedded within fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) layers. The embedded electrical grid includes a plurality of conductive fibers and a plurality of insulating fibers integrated into a polymer matrix of the FRP layers. The embedded electrical grid may be used for power distribution, structural strengthening and stiffness, and/or puncture detection.

Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.

Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.

Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.

Systems, methods and apparatuses for inspecting a tank containing a flammable fluid are provided. The system includes a vehicle having a propeller, a latch mechanism, a pressure switch, and an inspection device. The system includes a control unit in communication with the propeller, the latch mechanism, and the inspection device, and electrically connected to the pressure switch. The control unit powers on responsive to the pressure switch detecting an ambient pressure greater than a minimum threshold. The control unit receives, from the latch mechanism, an indication of a state of the latch mechanism. The control unit determines that the cable used to lower the vehicle into the tank containing the flammable fluid is detached from the vehicle. The control unit commands the propeller to move the vehicle through the flammable fluid. The control unit determines a quality metric of a portion of the tank.

A composite structure of a cargo body and a method of making the same are disclosed. The composite structure includes at least one electrical grid embedded within fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) layers. The embedded electrical grid includes a plurality of conductive fibers and a plurality of insulating fibers integrated into a polymer matrix of the FRP layers. The embedded electrical grid may be used for power distribution, structural strengthening and stiffness, and/or puncture detection.

A demountable tank, and method of constructing same, having a plurality of precast wall panels retained by a cable tensioning system to form a continuous, preferably circular, wall. The tank can be easily assembled at a site with prefabricated parts and easily deconstructed when no longer needed. The shape of the precast wall panels in conjunction with the cable tensioning system means no additional frame or supports are required.

The invention relates to a thermally insulated transport container with a housing for forming a space for goods, with walls and a thermal insulation abutting the walls as well as a wall structure of such a container. In particular, the invention relates to such a container as an air cargo container. According to the invention, sandwich plastic plates are provided as walls, with a honeycomb core welded on both sides to one covering ply, respectively, the honeycomb core and the covering plies consisting of a thermoplastic material, preferably PP. In this case, the walls are, in particular, a thermoplastic sandwich panel, consisting substantially of a PP (polypropylene) honeycomb core and PP covering layers, in particular glass-fiber reinforced, which are, with regard to the materials, homogenously connected to each other by thermally fused connection. Such plates are offered, for example, by Wihag Composites GmbH & Co. KG under the trademark MonoPan®, which are preferred in this case. The use of thermoplastic material makes it possible for adjacent sandwich plastic plates to be attached to each other by welding, particularly in the region of the edges. In particular, it is thus possible to produce largely frameless and thus lighter transport containers.

A modular subsea fluid storage unit comprises a variable-volume inner tank having a rigid top panel and a peripheral wall that is flexible by virtue of concertina formations. The peripheral wall is extensible and retractable vertically while the horizontal width of the tank remains substantially unchanged. A side wall of a lower housing part surrounds and is spaced horizontally from the peripheral wall of the inner tank to define a floodable gap between the peripheral wall and the side wall that surrounds the tank. An upper housing part extends over and is vertically spaced from the top panel of the inner tank and overlaps the side wall to enclose the inner tank. The floodable gap and the upper housing part enhance thermal insulation and trap any fluids that may leak from the inner tank.

A method for providing a drainage from a space between a lined concrete wall and a lining for protecting the lined concrete wall, wherein the method comprises the steps of arranging one or more draining member(s) each comprising a draining pipe having a blind flange arranged at both ends and having a length including the blind flanges that is substantially equal to the wall thickness in a casting frame so that the blind flanges are resting at the casting frame at the inside of the wall and the outside of the wall, respectively; filling concrete filled into the casting frame to cover the draining member(s) and allowing the concrete is allowed to cure; removing the casting frame from at least one of the sides of the concrete wall and; drilling through the blind flanges to open the draining member(s). A drained concrete wall and a concrete vessel are also described.