Abstract: A fiber reinforced composite structure and method for fabricating the composite, are described wherein four sets of mechanically flexible fibers are interwoven in a three-dimensional woven structure wherein each fiber is woven through the structure generally along one of the four directions defined generally parallel to a body diagonal of a cube, and wherein the woven structure is impregnated with polymeric, metallic or ceramic matrix material to form a composite material which is braced against deformation by shear applied in any orientation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for compressing a mass utilizing a plurality of interfitting anvils mounted for movement relative to one another along co-planar paths and include faces which, when the anvils are operatively moved relative to one another, exert compression on a mass positioned between the faces in at least two directions in a plane simultaneously. The faces of the apparatus can be so shaped that the cross section of the mass being compressed is urged toward a shape other than that of a regular polygon. Methods of the invention include the consolidation of a mass of compactable material enclosed within a hollow tube having deformable walls, the extraction of juice or oil from fruit or seeds and the internal fracturing of solids so as to swell materials such as solid rocket propellants.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for compressing a mass utilizing a plurality of interfitting anvils mounted for movement relative to one another along co-planar paths and include faces which, when the anvils are operatively moved relative to one another, exert compression on a mass positioned between the faces in at least two directions in a plane simultaneously. The faces of the apparatus can be so shaped that the cross section of the mass being compressed is urged toward a shape other than that of a regular polygon. Methods of the invention include the consolidation of a mass of compactable material enclosed within a hollow tube having deformable walls, the extraction of juice or oil from fruit or seeds and the internal fracturing of solids so as to swell materials such as solid rocket propellants.

Abstract: Two radial cuts are made in a disc-shaped solid, the wedge (or sector) thereby produced is removed, and the exposed faces of the radial cuts are forced into contact with each other. By bonding (or welding) together the faces of the radial cuts, a self-stressed disc, capable of propagating a pure mode 1 crack, is created.

Abstract: Glasses and other matrix phases containing asymmetrically shaped particles are converted into materials of improved mechanical strength by orienting the particles by introducing molten matrix containing the particles into an orientation zone and removing the molten matrix from the zone e.g. through at least one small orifice under conditions such that at the center of symmetry of the zone there is substantially no movement of the fluid molecules but in those regions of the zone spaced away from the centre of symmetry, there is extensional flow of the matrix molecules parallel to the direction of movement of the fluid stream(s) leaving the orientation zone whereby any asymmetrically shaped particles suspended in the flowing fluid become aligned parallel to the direction of movement of the stream(s) leaving the orientation zone.