US20030196581A1 - Multi-beam panel structures - Google Patents

Multi-beam panel structures Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20030196581A1
US20030196581A1 US10/409,257 US40925703A US2003196581A1 US 20030196581 A1 US20030196581 A1 US 20030196581A1 US 40925703 A US40925703 A US 40925703A US 2003196581 A1 US2003196581 A1 US 2003196581A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
fibrous material
elongate members
sandwich structure
elongate
fibre
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/409,257
Inventor
David Duncan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20030196581A1 publication Critical patent/US20030196581A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/18—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
    • B29C70/06—Fibrous reinforcements only
    • B29C70/08—Fibrous reinforcements only comprising combinations of different forms of fibrous reinforcements incorporated in matrix material, forming one or more layers, and with or without non-reinforced layers
    • B29C70/086—Fibrous reinforcements only comprising combinations of different forms of fibrous reinforcements incorporated in matrix material, forming one or more layers, and with or without non-reinforced layers and with one or more layers of pure plastics material, e.g. foam layers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • B29D99/001—Producing wall or panel-like structures, e.g. for hulls, fuselages, or buildings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/22—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed
    • B32B5/24—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B32B5/245—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer another layer next to it being a foam layer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B3/00—Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
    • B63B3/12—Frameless hulls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2266/00—Composition of foam
    • B32B2266/02—Organic
    • B32B2266/0214—Materials belonging to B32B27/00
    • B32B2266/0221—Vinyl resin
    • B32B2266/0228—Aromatic vinyl resin, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2266/00—Composition of foam
    • B32B2266/02—Organic
    • B32B2266/0214—Materials belonging to B32B27/00
    • B32B2266/0278—Polyurethane
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2231/00—Material used for some parts or elements, or for particular purposes
    • B63B2231/40—Synthetic materials
    • B63B2231/50—Foamed synthetic materials

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the fabrication of shaped panel structures such as boat hulls using a multi-beam panel construction.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive fabrication system which offers improved structural strength whilst at the same time allowing curved shapes to be formed without complicating the construction process or significantly increasing fabrication time.
  • the present invention provides a fabricated sandwich structure such as a boat hull, and a method of fabricating such a structure, which includes a plurality of elongate members each formed of a cellular material and individually covered by a respective layer of fibrous material, the elongate members being arranged side-by-side sandwiched between skins of fibre-reinforced plastics material which are bonded to the layers of fibrous material covering the elongate members, in which each layer of fibrous material is in the form of a strip which is wrapped around the respective elongate member at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the said member.
  • the inclined strips covering the opposed side faces of the elongate cellular members form strong cross-braced struts between the inner and outer skins effectively creating a series of adjacent I-beams or hollow box sections arranged side-by-side.
  • FIG. 1 is a general view of a structural member as used in the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of a number of such structural members arranged side-by-side in the construction of a panel in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse section through a completed panel
  • FIG. 4 is a similar transverse section through a curved panel forming part of a boat hull.
  • FIG. 1 shows an elongate flexible core member 10 which is suitable for use as a basic structural element for the fabrication of a wide range of shaped panels.
  • the core member is conveniently of a plain substantially rectangular cross-section as shown with opposite inner and outer faces 11 and 12 and perpendicular side faces 13 and 14 .
  • the core may be formed of a lightweight flexible and buoyant cellular material such as polyurethane foam, but the invention allows inexpensive cellular materials to be used such as expanded polystyrene.
  • a strip 20 of fibrous material is wrapped around the core in a spiral fashion with the strip disposed at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the core so that the top, bottom and side faces of the core are substantially covered by at least one thickness of the strip 12 throughout their length. It should be noted that the angle of the spiral wrapping to the longitudinal direction of the core is opposite on opposing faces of the core, as indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 2.
  • the strip 20 may include glass fibres, although other fibrous materials could be used including natural and synthetic fibres.
  • the fibres may be randomly distributed or regularly arranged as in a woven fabric.
  • the covering strips can be dry wrapped and held in place by means of an adhesive, by staples, pins etc. They could also be impregnated with resin and cured.
  • a number of such fibre-covered cores 10 are arranged side-by-side with their side faces abutting as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the opposite inner and outer faces 11 and 12 of the wrapped cores 10 are covered with respective inner and outer skins 24 and 26 of fibre-reinforced plastics material such as glass fibres impregnated with a curable resin (GRP).
  • GRP curable resin
  • a resin or other bonding agent may be applied to the strips 20 before or after assembly to form a strong bond with the inner and outer skins.
  • the opposing strips 20 covering the opposing side faces 13 and 14 of the cores form strong cross-braced struts between the inner and outer skins effectively creating a series of adjacent I-beam or hollow box sections.
  • the panel is very lightweight its structural strength is extremely high, even if low strength core materials are used.
  • the panel can readily be formed with a curved shape (transversely and/or longitudinally of the cores 10 ) such as may be necessary for the fabrication of a boat hull.
  • the fabric-covered cores 10 are applied around formers or placed in a mould in a known manner to attain the required shapes and relative positions.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

A fabricated panel structure such as a boat hull includes a plurality of elongate flexible cores 10 of a low strength foam material which are each individually covered by a respective strip 20 of fibrous material wrapped around each core in a spiral fashion. The covered members are arranged side-by-side sandwiched between inner and outer layers 24 and 26 of fibre-reinforced plastics material which are bonded to the cores.

Description

    TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to the fabrication of shaped panel structures such as boat hulls using a multi-beam panel construction. [0001]
    • BACKGROUND
  • It is known to fabricate shaped structures such as boat hulls from pieces of foamed plastics material sandwiched between inner and outer layers of fibre-reinforced plastics. Such a structure is considerably stronger and stiffer than a simple reinforced resin panel, but there may be a problem of insufficient bonding between the inner and outer skins resulting in structural delamination, particularly when the panels are subject to high levels of stress as encountered in the hull of a power boat for example. Various ways of strengthening the structure have been proposed, including the use of lengths of foam with interlocking edges and incorporating strengthening elements, but these often make it more difficult to form complex shapes such as a boat hull. It has also been proposed to individually cover the pieces of foamed cellular material with layers of fibrous material, but while the bonding may be improved the structural strength of the sandwich structure is not increased significantly. [0002]
  • For a vertically loaded beam the most economical form of cross section (the section requiring the least amount of material for a given strength or stiffness) is an “I” section. For both vertical and horizontal loads it is a hollow box section. [0003]
  • The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive fabrication system which offers improved structural strength whilst at the same time allowing curved shapes to be formed without complicating the construction process or significantly increasing fabrication time. [0004]
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The present invention provides a fabricated sandwich structure such as a boat hull, and a method of fabricating such a structure, which includes a plurality of elongate members each formed of a cellular material and individually covered by a respective layer of fibrous material, the elongate members being arranged side-by-side sandwiched between skins of fibre-reinforced plastics material which are bonded to the layers of fibrous material covering the elongate members, in which each layer of fibrous material is in the form of a strip which is wrapped around the respective elongate member at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the said member. [0005]
  • The inclined strips covering the opposed side faces of the elongate cellular members form strong cross-braced struts between the inner and outer skins effectively creating a series of adjacent I-beams or hollow box sections arranged side-by-side.[0006]
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: [0007]
  • FIG. 1 is a general view of a structural member as used in the invention; [0008]
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of a number of such structural members arranged side-by-side in the construction of a panel in accordance with the invention; [0009]
  • FIG. 3 is a transverse section through a completed panel; and [0010]
  • FIG. 4 is a similar transverse section through a curved panel forming part of a boat hull.[0011]
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 shows an elongate [0012] flexible core member 10 which is suitable for use as a basic structural element for the fabrication of a wide range of shaped panels. The core member is conveniently of a plain substantially rectangular cross-section as shown with opposite inner and outer faces 11 and 12 and perpendicular side faces 13 and 14. However, it should be noted that other suitable cross-sectional shapes could be used, particularly when forming curved panels for example. The core may be formed of a lightweight flexible and buoyant cellular material such as polyurethane foam, but the invention allows inexpensive cellular materials to be used such as expanded polystyrene. A strip 20 of fibrous material is wrapped around the core in a spiral fashion with the strip disposed at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the core so that the top, bottom and side faces of the core are substantially covered by at least one thickness of the strip 12 throughout their length. It should be noted that the angle of the spiral wrapping to the longitudinal direction of the core is opposite on opposing faces of the core, as indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 2. The strip 20 may include glass fibres, although other fibrous materials could be used including natural and synthetic fibres. The fibres may be randomly distributed or regularly arranged as in a woven fabric. The covering strips can be dry wrapped and held in place by means of an adhesive, by staples, pins etc. They could also be impregnated with resin and cured. A number of such fibre-covered cores 10 are arranged side-by-side with their side faces abutting as shown in FIG. 2.
  • As shown in FIG. 3, the opposite inner and [0013] outer faces 11 and 12 of the wrapped cores 10 are covered with respective inner and outer skins 24 and 26 of fibre-reinforced plastics material such as glass fibres impregnated with a curable resin (GRP). A resin or other bonding agent may be applied to the strips 20 before or after assembly to form a strong bond with the inner and outer skins. The opposing strips 20 covering the opposing side faces 13 and 14 of the cores form strong cross-braced struts between the inner and outer skins effectively creating a series of adjacent I-beam or hollow box sections. Thus, although the panel is very lightweight its structural strength is extremely high, even if low strength core materials are used.
  • As shown in FIG. 4, the panel can readily be formed with a curved shape (transversely and/or longitudinally of the cores [0014] 10) such as may be necessary for the fabrication of a boat hull. The fabric-covered cores 10 are applied around formers or placed in a mould in a known manner to attain the required shapes and relative positions.
  • It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein. [0015]

Claims (4)

I claim:
1. A fabricated sandwich structure which includes a plurality of elongate members each formed of a cellular material and individually covered by a respective layer of fibrous material, the elongate members being arranged side-by-side sandwiched between skins of fibre-reinforced plastics material which are bonded to the layers of fibrous material covering the elongate members, in which each layer of fibrous material is in the form of a strip which is wrapped around the respective elongate member at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the said member.
2. A boat hull which includes a fabricated sandwich structure according to claim 1.
3. A method of fabricating a sandwich structure which includes individually covering a plurality of elongate members formed of a cellular material with respective layers of fibrous material, arranging the elongate members side-by-side, sandwiching the elongate members between skins of fibre-reinforced plastics material, and bonding the skins to the layers of fibrous material covering the elongate members, in which each layer of fibrous material is in the form of a strip which is wrapped around the respective elongate member at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the said member.
4. A method according to claim 3, in which the fabricated sandwich structure is incorporated into a boat hull.
US10/409,257 2002-04-23 2003-04-08 Multi-beam panel structures Abandoned US20030196581A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0209202.1 2002-04-23
GB0209202A GB2387809A (en) 2002-04-23 2002-04-23 Multi-beam panel structures

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20030196581A1 true US20030196581A1 (en) 2003-10-23

Family

ID=9935305

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/409,257 Abandoned US20030196581A1 (en) 2002-04-23 2003-04-08 Multi-beam panel structures

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20030196581A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1359089A3 (en)
GB (1) GB2387809A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070212942A1 (en) * 2005-12-28 2007-09-13 Molex Incorporated EMI shroud with bidirectional contact members
DE102010054438A1 (en) * 2010-12-14 2012-06-14 Martin Aufenanger Lath for manufacturing boat hull, comprises outer side and inner side, which are constructed from multiple substantially mutually parallel laths connected to each other

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2008539098A (en) 2005-04-29 2008-11-13 ウッドブリッジ・フォーム・コーポレイション Foam laminated product and manufacturing method thereof
DE102006018110A1 (en) * 2006-03-16 2007-09-20 Innovida Holdings Inc., Hallandale Beach Sandwich element used e.g. in house construction comprises cores arranged between covering layers with transverse material surfaces separating the cores from each other
DE202006004153U1 (en) * 2006-03-16 2007-07-19 Innovida Holdings Inc., Hallandale Beach sandwich element
NL2000920C2 (en) * 2007-10-11 2009-04-15 Movares Nederland Bv Barge, has vessel, middle vessel and stern, where middle vessel connects middle ship parts in self-supporting sandwich construction and middle ship parts are linked with detachable connection
DE102009026458A1 (en) * 2009-05-25 2010-12-09 Airbus Operations Gmbh Structural component and manufacturing method for a structural component

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2755216A (en) * 1952-08-16 1956-07-17 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Process for forming a multi-ducted shell
US3544417A (en) * 1969-04-28 1970-12-01 Unicor Inc Cellular foam core assembly
US5057174A (en) * 1989-02-06 1991-10-15 Grumman Aerospace Corporation Foam tooling removal method

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1288926A (en) * 1961-02-17 1962-03-30 Chantiers Reunis Loire Normand Construction method, in reinforced plastic, of walls, in particular of boat hulls
FR2308748A1 (en) * 1975-04-23 1976-11-19 Rousseau Sa Self-supporting heat insulating roofing panel - has plastic foam core between wood fibre layers between softwood panels
US4205408A (en) * 1976-12-14 1980-06-03 John P. Glass Boat hull and method of forming same with fibrous stamp elements
DK142403B (en) * 1977-07-06 1980-10-27 Copencraft As Sandwich laminate with a core of blocks of foamed plastic.
IT8020925V0 (en) * 1980-02-29 1980-02-29 Cichero Aldo STRUCTURAL SUPPORTING ELEMENT IN EXPANDED PLASTIC MATERIAL COVERED WITH COVERING, FOR WALLS, PANELS, HULLS AND SIMILAR.
GB2151184B (en) * 1983-12-09 1987-08-26 Geoffrey Harold Jensen Reinforced plastic sandwich construction
US5046445A (en) * 1990-07-30 1991-09-10 Simpson Jr George D Boat having a composite v-shaped foam block bottom structure
BR9304020A (en) * 1993-10-15 1995-06-20 Bernd Martin Reidl Improvements in the structural composition of surfboards for chest
US6740381B2 (en) * 1999-12-28 2004-05-25 Webcore Technologies, Inc. Fiber reinforced composite cores and panels

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2755216A (en) * 1952-08-16 1956-07-17 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Process for forming a multi-ducted shell
US3544417A (en) * 1969-04-28 1970-12-01 Unicor Inc Cellular foam core assembly
US5057174A (en) * 1989-02-06 1991-10-15 Grumman Aerospace Corporation Foam tooling removal method

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070212942A1 (en) * 2005-12-28 2007-09-13 Molex Incorporated EMI shroud with bidirectional contact members
DE102010054438A1 (en) * 2010-12-14 2012-06-14 Martin Aufenanger Lath for manufacturing boat hull, comprises outer side and inner side, which are constructed from multiple substantially mutually parallel laths connected to each other

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0209202D0 (en) 2002-06-05
GB2387809A (en) 2003-10-29
EP1359089A2 (en) 2003-11-05
EP1359089A3 (en) 2003-11-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0030129B1 (en) Reinforcement board
US4092453A (en) Lightweight structural part formed of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic
US6497190B1 (en) Conformable composite structural member and method therefor
US12129611B2 (en) Composite structural panel and method of fabrication
US4789577A (en) Multichannel structures made of composites, processes and semifinished products for the manufacture thereof
EP2681376B1 (en) Exotensioned structural members with energy-absorbing effects
US8663791B2 (en) Composite reinforced cores and panels
US5474632A (en) Method of making a lattice core sandwich construction
US6155450A (en) Composite shell shaped as a body of revolution
US4029172A (en) Fiberglass ladder and method of constructing same
CA2763113C (en) Structural component and production method for a structural component
US4931124A (en) Method of making veneer laminate composite structure
US3660215A (en) Deformable fibreglass reinforced supporting element
AU610648B2 (en) Foam-honeycomb article and method
US4673453A (en) Method of making a structural body
US3640798A (en) Composite structural core assembly
US3920871A (en) Woven structural element, method of manufacture thereof, and method of making a boat hull therefrom
US20030196581A1 (en) Multi-beam panel structures
US20040211151A1 (en) Large composite structures and a process for fabricating large composite structures
GB1584732A (en) Plastics constructions
RU2333131C1 (en) Method of production of sections from three-layered structure made of polymer composite materials
KR100405996B1 (en) Sandwich Structure
US9266304B2 (en) Grid type element of open polygonal cells
US12221785B2 (en) Composite structure joining system and method and related structures
JPS62191136A (en) Fiber-reinforced plastic composite board

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION