We have recently proposed a new concept for deployable reflectors consisting of a thin parabolic carbon-fibre-reinforced-plastic (CFRP) shell stiffened along the edge by an elastically collapsible stiffener. Here we show that a stiffener accounting for less than 10% of the total mass of the reflector increases the stiffness of the softest deformation mode of the deployed reflector by 48 times, ...

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates are getting more widely used outside the aerospace industry. For large structures the selected process is often vacuum infusion, due to tool cost and heating/pressure limitations for large components. It has also been shown that such process can give sufficient mechanical properties. In the current EUROPE 103-014 project, supported by the Western...

In this study, HDPE-based flat-pressed WPCs were reinforced with glass fibre and carbon woven fabrics, which could be used where high strength stiffness are required. The effect of reinforcement on some physical, mechanical, thermal properties fire performance was investigated. According to the results, increase in fabric density resulted holding much water microvoids fabric, increased absorpti...

Gears are an integral and necessary component in our everyday lives. Most of the work performed in plastic and metal but very few works available in combine effect of plastic and metal gears. The main problem while referring plastic gear is the bending strength and in case of metal gear is cost. Hence, the work is performed on metal plastic composite gear to get benefit of both. Here use the co...

Although fiber-reinforced composite materials have often been considered as periodic materials in theoretical models, the distribution of fibers is random in real materials. This random distribution of fibers is closely related to their transverse failure behavior. This paper proposes the use of statistical functions which describe random point patterns as a quantification of the dispersion of ...

OBJECTIVE To examine, for polio survivors, whether walking with a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic knee-ankle-foot orthosis (carbon KAFO) is more efficient than walking with an ordinary KAFO or without an orthosis. DESIGN Consecutive sample. SETTING Post-polio clinic, University Hospital of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. PARTICIPANTS Eleven polio survivo...

Measurements have been made of the temperature distribution in the antenna backing structures on the 6 m diameter antennas of the BIMA Array at Hat Creek. 32 thermistors were distributed around the backing structure and on one panel and were monitored under varying conditions. Significant gradients were found between the front and rear of the backing structure, across the structure, and radiall...