Abstract: A system for sequential circumferential deposition of thermoplastic composite prepreg material to layer plies of prepreg tape, allowing the continuous processing of tubular shapes and rods, comprising a floating mandrel; a first heatable folding shoe configured to heat and wrap a first prepreg tape onto the floating mandrel; a first forming tube configured to heat and pultrude the first prepreg tape so as to form a first layer ply of prepreg tape on the floating mandrel; a second heatable folding shoe configured to heat and wrap a second prepreg tape onto the first layer ply of prepreg tape on the floating mandrel; a second forming tube configured to heat and pultrude the second prepreg tape so as to form a second layer ply of prepreg tape over the first layer ply of prepreg tape on the floating mandrel.

Abstract: A shear-resistant Z-axis fiber-reinforced composite laminate structure includes a core material; an upper laminate; a lower laminate; and a plurality of contiguous cured resin Z-axis fiber bundles disposed in the core material between the upper laminate and the lower laminate to form high moment-of-inertia solid composite structural elements in the core material.