Title: Exotensioned structural members with energy-absorbing effects

Abstract

Structural members having enhanced load bearing capacity per unit mass include a skeleton structure formed from strips of material. Notches may be placed on the strips and a weave of tensile material placed in the notches and woven around the skeleton structure. At least one pair of structural members can be jointed together to provide very strong joints due to a weave patterns of tensile material, such as Kevlar, that distributes stress throughout the structure, preventing stress from concentrating in one area. Methods of manufacturing such structural members include molding material into skeletons of desired cross section using a matrix of molding segments. Total catastrophic failures in composite materials are substantially avoided and the strength to weight ratio of structures can be increased.

Inventors:

Brockwell, Michael Ian

Issue Date:

2017-08-22

Research Org.:

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1376065

Patent Number(s):

9739061

Application Number:

14/806,599

Assignee:

Brockwell; Michael Ian

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29C - SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29K - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS

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B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29C - SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS

B29C70/28 - Shaping operations therefor
B29C70/86 - Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, {e.g. by winding}

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B29 - WORKING OF PLASTICS B29K - INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS

B29K2105/08 - of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns
B29K2715/003 - Cellular or porous

B - PERFORMING OPERATIONS B32 - LAYERED PRODUCTS B32B - LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM

B32B2419/00 - Buildings or parts thereof
B32B2605/18 - Aircraft
B32B37/02 - characterised by a sequence of laminating steps, e.g. by adding new layers at consecutive laminating stations
B32B37/18 - involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
B32B37/24 - with at least one layer not being coherent before laminating, e.g. made up from granular material sprinkled onto a substrate
B32B38/0004 - {Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting

D - TEXTILES D03 - WEAVING D03D - WOVEN FABRICS

D03D3/00 - Woven fabrics characterised by their shape

D - TEXTILES D04 - BRAIDING D04H - MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL

D04H3/02 - characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of yarns or filaments

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E04 - BUILDING E04C - STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

E04C3/02 - Joists
E04C3/29 - built-up from parts of different material, {i.e. composite structures}
E04C3/36 - of materials not covered by groups E04C3/32 or E04C3/34

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10T - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

Y10T29/49625 - Openwork, e.g., a truss, joist, frame, lattice-type or box beam
Y10T29/49826 - Assembling or joining
Y10T29/4998 - Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
Y10T428/23 - Sheet including cover or casing
Y10T428/24273 - including aperture

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC52-06NA25396

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2015 Jul 22

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION