Abstract: A reinforced fiber base material is placed on a forming die having a concave part and fixed to the forming die by at least a pair of fixing members disposed on either side of the concave part so as to form a gap between the reinforced fiber base material and a bottom surface of the concave part of the forming die. Subsequently, the reinforced fiber base material fixed to the forming die is covered by a bag film, a forming space that is formed between the forming die and the bag film is decompressed, and a matrix resin is allowed to flow inside the decompressed forming space. The matrix resin is then hardened so as to obtain a composite material in which the reinforced fiber base material and the matrix resin are integrally formed.

Abstract: A toroidal pressure vessel having extremely high pressure resistance has laminated latitudinal reinforcing fiber layers to improve a strength in a latitudinal direction of the pressure vessel. Moreover, putting reinforcing fibers constituting those laminated latitudinal reinforcing fiber layers in continuity enables further improvement of strength in the latitudinal direction of the pressure vessel, for example compared with a case where the reinforcing fibers are divided for each layer.

Abstract: In an apparatus for manufacturing a fiber reinforced plastic structure, a cavity is formed by a first mold and a film second mold covering the first mold, and plastic is impregnated to a fiber laminate provided in the cavity in a depressurized state. The apparatus includes: a mesh plastic flow medium that is disposed on the side of the second mold and increases the volume of the plastic to be impregnated to the fiber laminate; and a plastic flow suppressing member that is disposed on the side of the first mold of the plastic flow medium, and suppresses advance of a flow front of fluid plastic injected from a main plastic supplying unit (a first plastic supplying unit).

Abstract: A wind turbine blade having a spar cap disposed between layers constituting an outer skin or disposed on an inner side of the outer skin and a method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade are provided, wherein in manufacture of the wind turbine blade, generation of manufacturing defects, such as misalignment and wrinkles in fabrics, can be suppressed and the time required for repairing the defects as well as for laminating the layers can be reduced. In the method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade having the spar cap as a main structural member of the blade disposed between the layers constituting the outer skin or disposed on the inner side of the outer skin, the spar cap is formed as a separate piece from the outer skin, and the spar cap, dry fiber fabrics for the layers constituting the outer skin, and a sandwich core member are collectively impregnated with resin under a vacuum process.

Abstract: A reinforced fiber base material is placed on a forming die having a concave part and fixed to the forming die by at least a pair of fixing members disposed on either side of the concave part so as to form a gap between the reinforced fiber base material and a bottom surface of the concave part of the forming die. Subsequently, the reinforced fiber base material fixed to the forming die is covered by a bag film, a forming space that is formed between the forming die and the bag film is decompressed, and a matrix resin is allowed to flow inside the decompressed forming space. The matrix resin is then hardened so as to obtain a composite material in which the reinforced fiber base material and the matrix resin are integrally formed.

Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine rotor blade that can secure a sufficient strength in a coupling portion without significant increase in weight even though a blade is increased in size because beams, which are main strength members of the separated blades, are coupled to each other by metallic coupling members.

Abstract: Provided are a reinforcement fabric laminating apparatus and a method for the same in which wrinkles that occur when a sheet-like reinforcement fabric is laminated on a curved or bent mold can be prevented, the workload can be reduced, and the operating efficiency can be improved. A reinforcement fabric laminating apparatus including a sheet feeding unit that feeds out a reinforcement fabric to be laminated on a mold and a pressure contact unit that pressure-contacts the reinforcement fabric onto the mold, wherein the pressure contact unit has a narrower width than the reinforcement fabric, and the sheet feeding unit supplies the reinforcement fabric while applying tension between the sheet feeding unit and the pressure contact unit.

Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine rotor blade that can secure a sufficient strength in a coupling portion without significant increase in weight even though a blade is increased in size because beams, which are main strength members of the separated blades, are coupled to each other by metallic coupling members.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade having a spar cap disposed between layers constituting an outer skin or disposed on an inner side of the outer skin and a method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade are provided, wherein in manufacture of the wind turbine blade, generation of manufacturing defects, such as misalignment and wrinkles in fabrics, can be suppressed and the time required for repairing the defects as well as for laminating the layers can be reduced. In the method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade having the spar cap as a main structural member of the blade disposed between the layers constituting the outer skin or disposed on the inner side of the outer skin, the spar cap is formed as a separate piece from the outer skin, and the spar cap, dry fiber fabrics for the layers constituting the outer skin, and a sandwich core member are collectively impregnated with resin under a vacuum process.

Abstract: Provided is a toroidal pressure vessel having extremely high pressure resistance. Laminating latitudinal reinforcing fiber layers (32) enables to improve a strength in a latitudinal direction of a pressure vessel (1). Moreover, putting reinforcing fibers (32a) constituting those laminated latitudinal reinforcing fiber layers (32) in continuity enables to further improve the strength in the latitudinal direction of the pressure vessel (1), for example compared with a case where the reinforcing fibers are divided for each layer.

Abstract: In an apparatus for manufacturing a fiber reinforced plastic structure, a cavity is formed by a first mold and a film second mold covering the first mold, and plastic is impregnated to a fiber laminate provided in the cavity in a depressurized state. The apparatus includes: a mesh plastic flow medium that is disposed on the side of the second mold and increases the volume of the plastic to be impregnated to the fiber laminate; and a plastic flow suppressing member that is disposed on the side of the first mold of the plastic flow medium, and suppresses advance of a flow front of fluid plastic injected from a main plastic supplying unit (a first plastic supplying unit).

Abstract: A hot-forged TiAl-based alloy having excellent oxidation resistance and high strength at high temperatures, and a process for producing such an alloy. A TiAl-based alloy comprising Al: (40+a) atomic % and Nb: b atomic %, with the remainder being Ti and unavoidable impurities, wherein a and b satisfy formulas (1) and (2) below. 0?a?2??(1) 3+a?b?7+a??(2) Also, a TiAl-based alloy comprising Al: (40+a) atomic % and Nb: b atomic %, and further comprising one or more elements selected from the group consisting of V: c atomic %, Cr: d atomic % and Mo: e atomic %, with the remainder being Ti and unavoidable impurities, wherein a to e satisfy formulas (3) to (9) shown below. 0?a?2??(3) 3+a?b+1.0c+1.8d+3.

Abstract: A TiAl based alloy having excellent strength as well as an improvement in toughness at room temperature, in particular an improvement in impact properties at room temperature, and a production method thereof, and a blade using the same are provided. This TiAl based alloy has a microstructure in which lamellar grains having a mean grain diameter of from 1 to 50 ?m are closely arranged. The alloy composition is Ti-(42-48)Al-(5-10)(Cr and/or V) or Ti-(38-43)Al-(4-10)Mn. The alloy can be obtained by subjecting the alloy to high-speed plastic working in the cooling process, after the alloy has been held in an equilibrium temperature range of the ? phase or the (?+?) phase.

Abstract: A TiAl based alloy having excellent strength as well as an improvement in toughness at room temperature, in particular an improvement in impact properties at room temperature, and a production method thereof, and a blade using the same are provided. This TiAl based alloy has a microstructure in which lamellar grains having a mean grain diameter of from 1 to 50 &mgr;m are closely arranged. The alloy composition is Ti-(42-48)Al-(5-10) (Cr and/or V) or Ti-(38-43)Al-(4-10)Mn. The alloy can be obtained by subjecting the alloy to high-speed plastic working in the cooling process, after the alloy has been held in an equilibrium temperature range of the &agr; phase or the (&agr;+&bgr;) phase.

Abstract: A TiAl based alloy having excellent strength as well as an improvement in toughness at room temperature, in particular an improvement in impact properties at room temperature, and a production method thereof, and a blade using the same are provided. This TiAl based alloy has a microstructure in which lamellar grains having a mean grain diameter of from 1 to 50 &mgr;m are closely arranged. The alloy composition is Ti-(42-48)Al-(5-10) (Cr and/or V) or Ti-(38-43)Al-(4-10)Mn. The alloy can be obtained by subjecting the alloy to high-speed plastic working in the cooling process, after the alloy has been held in an equilibrium temperature range of the &agr; phase or the (&agr;+&bgr;) phase.

Abstract: A TiAl based alloy having excellent strength as well as an improvement in toughness at room temperature, in particular an improvement in impact properties at room temperature, and a production method thereof, and a blade using the same are provided. This TiAl based alloy has a microstructure in which lamellar grains having a mean grain diameter of from 1 to 50 &mgr;m are closely arranged. The alloy composition is Ti-(42-48)Al-(5-10) (Cr and/or V) or Ti-(38-43)Al-(4-10)Mn. The alloy can be obtained by subjecting the alloy to high-speed plastic working in the cooling process, after the alloy has been held in an equilibrium temperature range of the &agr; phase or the (&agr;+&bgr;) phase.