Ahlstrom Corporation

Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy

Rainer Bergström

Jari Viljakainen

A stitched unidirectional or multi-axial reinforcement and a method of producing a stitched unidirectional or multi-axial reinforcement includes transversely arranging thin discrete flow passage forming means having a diameter of 70-300 &#x3bc;m in a direction transverse to the direction of the unidirectional rovings at least on the continuous rovings of the at least one layer, and stitching the thin discrete flow passage forming means and the continuous unidirectional rovings to one another to form a reinforcement.

Stitched unidirectional or multi-axial reinforcement and a method of producing the same

A substantially laterally pressure-loaded panel has a side aspect ratio of at least 1.5, is formed of at least two reinforcement layers of substantially unidirectional fibers. The predominant orientation of the fibers form an angle of between about &#xb1;55&#xb0;-&#xb1;75&#xb0; (preferably about 60&#xb0;) with the longer side of the panel, with about one-half of the layers having a positive (+) angle and about one-half a negative (&#x2212;) angle, within the range. The panel preferably has about 60-100% of its thickness formed by the reinforcement layers. The panels can be used can be used in boat and/or shipbuilding structural panels, pressure-loaded tanks, pressure-vessels and other corresponding structures that are subjected to a lateral pressure load.

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Mikkeli, Finland

Rainer Bergström