Helicoid Industries Inc.

Rolls-royce Corporation

Lorenzo Mencattelli

Pascal Joubert Des Ouches

Chadwick Wasilenkoff

James Alex Finlayson

Silvestre T Pinho

Victor P A Medeau

MohammadErfan Kazemi

Emile S Greenhalgh

Soraia Pimenta

David Kisailus

Chad Wasilenkoff

Paul Robinson

Anthony Bert

A kinetic energy absorptive composite article comprising a plurality of plies, and a method of manufacturing the kinetic energy absorptive composite article. Each ply comprises a plurality of substantially parallel fibers encapsulated within a resin. A plurality of localised weaknesses are comprised within the fibers of the kinetic energy absorptive composite article, the locations of the plurality of localised weaknesses forming a pre-defined pattern. The pre-defined pattern comprises a first sub-pattern and a second sub-pattern superposed upon the first sub-pattern. The first sub-pattern is configured so that a crack formed by an impact event propagates substantially along a predetermined fracture path to separate the kinetic energy absorptive composite article into at least a first portion and a second portion and the second sub-pattern is configured to set a threshold below which the crack does not propagate.

Kinetic energy absorptive composite article

A containment structure for a propulsion device, comprising a plurality of laminates arranged in a stack for absorbing projectile impact from the propulsion device, each laminate comprising a multi-ply composite of fibre reinforcement material and matrix material. The plurality of laminates comprises a plurality of primary laminates and a plurality of secondary laminates provided in an alternating arrangement along a stacking direction S of the containment structure. The primary laminates comprise a first fibre reinforcement material and the secondary laminates comprises a second fibre reinforcement material. The first fibre reinforcement material has a higher elongation to failure than the second fibre reinforcement material.

Containment structure

Described herein are details for designing and manufacturing enhanced shock and impact resistant helicoidal lay-ups by combining nanomaterials, variable pitch and partial spirals, Thin unidirectional fiber plies, hybrid materials, and/or curved fibers within a ply. The helicoidal structures created in the prescribed manners can be tuned and pitched to desired wavelengths to dampen propagating shock waves initiated by ballistics, strike forces or foreign material impacts and can arrest the propagation of fractures including catastrophic fractures. These enhancements open the helicoidal technology up for use in such applications as consumer products, protective armor, sporting equipment, crash protection devices, wind turbine blades, cryogenic tanks, pressure vessels, battery casings, automotive/aerospace components, construction materials, and other composite products.

Composite materials and structures

Systems and methods for protecting an aerodynamic structure, e.g., a wind turbine blade, rotor blade, aerodynamic aerostructure, etc., are provided. Long fiber reinforced composites having a helicoidal architecture with material aligned with a graded hardness and stiffness are used to develop an efficient and highly tailorable leading edge protection (LEP) solution with longer durability than conventional solutions while yielding lighter, and optionally, more environmentally sustainable solutions. At least a portion of the plurality of plies are helicoidally arranged relative to one another to tailor stress wave propagation speed of the aerodynamic blade and to provide load carrying strength for the aerodynamic blade.

High impact-resistant, reinforced fiber for leading edge protection of aerodynamic structures

A container includes one or more hollow shell assemblies, each assembly having a first hollow shell including a first inner surface to cover a portion of a pressure vessel (PV) and a second hollow shell including a second inner surface attachable to the first hollow shell. The first and/or second hollow shells may include a fiber layer that may be at least partially impregnated with resin, and an energy dissipating material that is substantially concentric with the inner surfaces of the respective shells. The first and second hollow shells are attachable to one another to define a volume for at least partially enclosing the PV, and may be overwrapped via filament winding.

Containers and methods for protecting pressure vessels

A container includes first and second hollow shells respectively including first and second inner surfaces to receive a portion of a pressure vessel (PV). The first hollow shell includes a fiber layer that is and at least partially impregnated with resin, and an energy dissipating material that is substantially concentric with the first inner surface and disposed between the first inner surface and the fiber layer. The second hollow shell includes a fiber layer that is at least partially impregnated with resin, and an energy dissipating material that is substantially concentric with the second inner surface and disposed between the second inner surface and the second fiber layer. The first and second hollow shells are attachable to one another to define a volume for at least partially enclosing the PV.

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London, United Kingdom

Lorenzo Mencattelli