Abstract: A durable, quickly deployable temporary floating breakwater (FBW) can protect areas in austere locations. A plurality of inflatable modules is encapsulated within a common cover, which holds the modules together and in some embodiments supports a causeway thereupon. A separate floating causeway can be included. Embodiments include a semi-permeable “sloping beach” section which causes waves to break before reaching the FBW. A bed of wave-energy-absorbing synthetic kelp can be attached to the sloping beach. The beach and/or kelp can include low-surface-energy fibers and films, such as olefins and polypropylenes, to remove oil from the water in case of an oil spill or accident. In embodiments, the FBW can be temporarily sunk to avoid extremely high seas, ice, and/or other surface hazards. The FBW is lightweight, can be quickly and compactly stowed, and in some embodiments can be transported and deployed from the deck of an LCU 1610.

Abstract: A munitions container includes an inner container and an outer container formed of a fibrous material. A form is positioned within the inner container and receives munitions. The outer container is placed on a rigid baseplate.

Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed where carrier fiber is used to enable the assembly of two and three dimensional structures of autologous tissue. Tissue is harvested from the donor, integrated with a carrier fiber, and assembled into complex forms rapidly. The structures can be tailored to the requirements of a specific medical procedure. The tissue is kept live and viable during extracorporeal assembly and the finished structure is emplaced in the donor's body. The use of a carrier fiber leader for pre-threading integration and assembly machines facilitates machine set up, drawing of the tissue into the process, and rapid integration and assembly of the multi-dimensional structures. Assembly can include providing tissue and fiber leaders extending from the structure for attaching the structure in place. The carrier fiber either is bio-absorbed as new tissue forms, or forms a bio-compatible substructure for the patient's native tissue.

Abstract: A method for joining fabrics, particularly high strength fabrics such as airship hull fabrics, including the steps of: measuring selected parameters of two fabric layers to be joined and the adhesive and any tape or other materials intended to be included in the joint; calculating therefrom an optimal value of a quality control parameter of an ideal joint, such as joint thickness, specific gravity or opacity; assembling the two fabric layers and other materials in the desired order; and applying heat and pressure to the assemblage until the selected quality control parameter of the joint, such as joint thickness, specific gravity or opacity, is satisfied.

Abstract: A composite fabric, multi-layer protective panel alternative to an exclusively fine denier, continuous filament yarn protective fabric, multi-layer protective panel. Fabric layers consist of warp and fill sheets of continuous filament yarn of relatively higher denier at a relatively lower cover factor that have their yarns interlocked in a woven pattern by overlapping warp and fill sheets of staple yarns of relatively lower denier, thus raising effective cover factor. Staple yarns have a conspicuous amount of hairiness for greater yarn stability. Ballistic performance is enhanced by depositing a molten mass of fiber material and protruding staple fiber filament ends on a striking projectile upon impact on outer layers, and transporting the additional mass into the panel with a higher coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A flexible, penetration resistant structure has a solids layer with a pattern of intersecting gap lines with critical gap cross section geometry, a flexible fiber or fabric layer backing, and a critical bonding layer attaching the solids layer to the flexible backing layer; where the gap geometry upon impact by a select penetrator type causes a controlled response and distributes impact energy in the structure, placing elements of the solids layer adjacent to the impact point mainly in vertical and lateral compression, the bonding layer mainly in shear, the fabric layer beneath the point of impact mainly in bending pressure, and the fibers within the fabric layer, particular those fibers perpendicular to the axis of the gap segment impacted, mainly in tension; and where the applicable class of penetrators is loosely defined as within a certain range of striking energy per unit area of penetrator contact area cross section.

Abstract: A flexible, penetration resistant structure has a solids layer with a pattern of intersecting gap lines with critical gap cross section geometry, a flexible fiber or fabric layer backing, and a critical bonding layer attaching the solids layer to the flexible backing layer; where the gap geometry upon impact by a select penetrator type causes a controlled response and distributes impact energy in the structure, placing elements of the solids layer adjacent to the impact point mainly in vertical and lateral compression, the bonding layer mainly in shear, the fabric layer beneath the point of impact mainly in bending pressure, and the fibers within the fabric layer, particular those fibers perpendicular to the axis of the gap segment impacted, mainly in tension; and where the applicable class of penetrators is loosely defined as within a certain range of striking energy per unit area of penetrator contact area cross section.

Abstract: A flexible armor system adaptable to a garment suitable for extremity protection uses planar, polygon-shaped solid elements made of ceramic cores wrapped in high strength fabric and arranged with rotable edge and intersection protection as a flexible mosaic array which is bonded between an elastic strike side spall cover and a high tensile strength flexible backer layer, further supported by a substantial fiber pack. A progressive mode of localized system failure during a ballistic strike includes: a projectile penetrating the spall cover, fracturing the ceramic core of a wrapped SE while being partially deformed; the deformed projectile accelerating the fractured but still wrapped solid element before it so as to free the solid element from the array and drive it through the flexible backer as a combined mass at a reduced velocity into the fiber pack.

Abstract: A method for joining fabrics, particularly high strength fabrics such as airship hull fabrics, including the steps of: measuring selected parameters of two fabric layers to be joined and the adhesive and any tape or other materials intended to be included in the joint; calculating therefrom an optimal value of a quality control parameter of an ideal joint, such as joint thickness, specific gravity or opacity; assembling the two fabric layers and other materials in the desired order; and applying heat and pressure to the assemblage until the selected quality control parameter of the joint, such as joint thickness, specific gravity or opacity, is satisfied.

Abstract: An inflatable barrier system for a doorway or other opening comprising a front side envelope of rectangular front elevation and dog bone shaped horizontal plane cross section, inflatable with gas and fillable with a hardening foam, combined with an inflatable back side array of tubular air beams configured with self sealant, both connected to a source of gas for inflating the fabric envelope and the back side array of tubular air beams. The front side envelope is configured for frontal resistance to predetermined levels of push, cut, puncture, flame, chemical and ballistic attack. The system is used as a method for closing a doorway to such attacks by erecting and inflating the system within the opening such that the edges on either side of the opening are gripped between the lobes of the respective ends of the dog bone profile of the front side envelope.

Abstract: A method for joining fabrics, particularly high strength fabrics such as airship hull fabrics, including the steps of: measuring selected parameters of two fabric layers to be joined and the adhesive and any tape or other materials intended to be included in the joint; calculating therefrom an optimal value of a quality control parameter of an ideal joint, such as joint thickness, specific gravity or opacity; assembling the two fabric layers and other materials in the desired order; and applying heat and pressure to the assemblage until the selected quality control parameter of the joint, such as joint thickness, specific gravity or opacity, is satisfied.

Abstract: A flexible laminate for airship or gas enclosure applications, having a load bearing woven fabric core layer of high strength, low twist yarns, an interior side gas barrier layer, a yarn to fabric strength ratio of between about 1.36 and 1.8, a limited yarn twist, and a yarn height to width ratio of between about 1:2 and 1:7. There is an interior side gas barrier layer on one side of the load bearing layer preferably consisting of polyurethane and an exterior side layer on the other side of the load bearing layer which includes in sequence a first layer of polyurethane, a layer of film, a second layer of polyurethane, and an outermost layer of polymeric material. The laminated structure preferably has a gas transmission rate of not more than about 30 cubic centimeters in 24 hours through a one meter square area at a one atmosphere pressure differential.

Abstract: A fabric system for producing at least a woven fabric of controlled modulus or elongation in the MD or warp axis, has a core layer which is the main structural element, and may have one or more woven cover fabrics adhesively bonded with an off axis configuration to one or both sides of the core layer. In a preferred embodiment the core fabric is covered with at least one off axis fabric on both sides. The cover fabrics may also have resin or film top layers laminated or coated on their outside surfaces, for mechanical performance or UV protection or both.

Abstract: A system of manufacturing to incorporate protective materials with high cut and puncture resistance into standard safety and apparel products including gloves, to create a highly effective and low cost system of producing safety garments while preserving the characteristics of the original garment. This includes attaching a cut and puncture resistant protective liner or multiple liners to the inside or outside of or within a garment such as a glove by means of adhesives or stitching. The liner may be a protective liner with cut resistance greater than 450 lbs per inch/thickness and/or puncture resistance greater than 50 lbs per inch/thickness depending on the application requirement for protection and dexterity.

Abstract: A fabric system for producing at least a woven fabric of controlled modulus or elongation in the MD or warp axis, has a core layer which is the main structural element, and may have one or more woven cover fabrics adhesively bonded with an off axis configuration to one or both sides of the core layer. In a preferred embodiment the core fabric is covered with at least one off axis fabric on both sides. The cover fabrics may also have resin or film top layers laminated or coated on their outside surfaces, for mechanical performance or UV protection or both.

Abstract: A coated, bi-directional substrate design for an aircraft escape slide airbeam, where the longitudinal strength and hoop strength of the substrate and the coating applied thereto are optimized to the application. Less than 45% of the total substrate fiber content is in the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and the longitudinal strength of the substrate is approximately 50% of the hoop strength. The substrate is constructed of nylon, polyester, aramid, para-aramid or liquid crystal polymer fibers, and either polyurethane coatings and adhesives or polyether polyurethane coatings and adhesives. The warp yarns are less than ½ the denier of the fill yarns and are woven in groups of 2 or more yarns to improve the tear strength of the fabric in the warp direction.

Abstract: An implantable tissue grafting medical system and material using a combination of bio-absorbable and non bio-absorbable fibers and materials such as Poly Glycolic Acid (PGA) and polyester (PET), provides a permeable mesh or weave of fibers with an initial interstice size and permeability factor suitable to initial implant requirements, and a pre-engineered bio-absorption pattern and rate that controls the gradual expansion of interstice size within the mesh or weave in one or two dimensions up to a pre-engineered maximum interstice size, consistent with the anticipated rate of tissue regeneration on the implant, while retaining a primary grid or circumferential pattern of non-absorbable fibers at the maximum interstice size for supporting the new tissue for an extended period. Various means for combining materials to obtain initial interstice size, pattern and permeability, with the desired absorption pattern and rate, and the desired end point interstice size and spacing, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A laminate fabric system including a puncture-resistant layer of high tenacity fibers, a water resistant, breathable membrane layer of a microporous or monolithic character, and a woven fabric layer, where the layers are substantially but not necessarily entirely coextensive, with interlayer connections occurring at least periodically throughout the multi-layered structure.

Abstract: A composite fabric, multi-layer protective panel alternative to an exclusively fine denier, continuous filament yarn protective fabric, multi-layer protective panel. Fabric layers consist of warp and fill sheets of continuous filament yarn of relatively higher denier at a relatively lower cover factor that have their yarns interlocked in a woven pattern by overlapping warp and fill sheets of staple yarns of relatively lower denier, thus raising effective cover factor. Staple yarns have a conspicuous amount of hairiness for greater yarn stability. Ballistic performance is enhanced by depositing a molten mass of fiber material and protruding staple fiber filament ends on a striking projectile upon impact on outer layers, and transporting the additional mass into the panel with a higher coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A protective covering system having high-flexibility and low areal density characteristics. In one aspect of the invention, the protective system includes a plurality of metallic staples or wire elements secured to multi-layer matrix including woven fibers, the layers being oriented at cross angles to provide a grid-like pattern of protective elements. In one aspect of the invention, protective elements provide a coverage area of less than 90% and as little as 40% of total surface area. In one aspect of the invention, protective elements may be mechanically secured to a matrix by a puncture and crimp process. In another, wire elements may be attached or woven into one or more matrix layers.