Abstract: An aircraft drive shaft including an outer shaft having a first diameter configured to couple a first gearbox and a second gearbox to provide power transfer between the two gearboxes, an inner shaft concentric with the outer shaft and having a second diameter configured to provide structural support to the outer shaft, a gap defined between an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the outer shaft, wherein the gap is sized according to a ballistic projectile cross-section size that the aircraft is considered to encounter on an upcoming mission, and a sleeve located at least at first end of the outer shaft connecting the outer shaft to the inner shaft.

Abstract: A belt for suspending and/or driving an elevator car includes a tension member extending along a length of the belt, the tension member including a plurality of fibers bonded in a first polymer matrix, the plurality of fibers extending parallel to and discontinuous along a length of the belt and arranged with one or more lengthwise extending gaps between lengthwise adjacent fibers. A jacket substantially retains the tension member. A method of forming a tension member for an elevator system belt includes arranging a plurality of fibers into a fiber bundle. The plurality of fibers extend parallel to a length of the belt and have one or more lengthwise extending gaps between lengthwise extending fibers. The plurality of fibers is bonded to a first polymer matrix.

Abstract: A drive shaft is for selectively connecting a drive input to an output. The drive shaft has a tubular portion, a first diaphragm member, and a second diaphragm member displaced axially along the shaft from the first diaphragm member. The first and second diaphragm members each are formed with two axial ends. At least one undulation extends radially of the ends. The tubular portion connects the first and second diaphragm members. The first and second diaphragm members and the tubular portion are formed of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. The first and second diaphragm members are connected to first and second axial ends of the tubular portion through a mechanical connection at joints. There is also a method of forming a drive shaft.

Abstract: A drive shaft body extends between axial ends and has an outer peripheral surface with undulations extending between relatively greater and smaller outer diameters. The undulations extend along a non-zero angle relative to a circumferential direction defined relative to a drive axis of the drive shaft. The undulations extend along a spiral. The drive shaft body is formed of a fiber-reinforced composite material.

Abstract: A composite/metal joint includes a composite member, a metallic member, a cylindrical liner, and a fastener. The composite member has a first aperture. The metallic member is disposed adjacent to the composite member and has a second aperture coaxially aligned with the first aperture. The cylindrical liner extends longitudinally from a first end to a second end. The cylindrical liner has a cylindrical outer liner surface and a longitudinally extending third aperture coaxial with the first and second apertures and defined by an inner liner surface. The cylindrical liner is disposed in the first and second apertures with the outer liner surface adjacent to aperture walls of the first and second apertures. The cylindrical liner has a plurality of grooves intersecting the outer liner surface. The fastener is disposed through the third aperture of the cylindrical liner and is configured to attach the metallic member to the composite member.

Abstract: An easily inspected shaft assembly is provided and includes a shaft, a sleeve receptive of a portion of the shaft and an optically activatable layer including first and second sections disposed on respective exterior surfaces of the shaft and the sleeve, respectively, such that the first and second sections move relative to one another as the shaft and the sleeve move relative to one another.

Abstract: A composite shaft includes a shaft body formed from a plurality of polymer impregnated fiber-reinforced material layers having an annular outer surface and an annular inner surface defining a passage. A plurality of internal support members extend along the passage. Each of the plurality of internal support members includes a support body formed from molded plastic having an outer surface that abuts the annular inner surface of the support body, a first end, an opposing second end, and a circular end wall arranged at one of the first end and the opposing second end.

Abstract: A frame beam member may include a tubular volume. The tubular volume may include at least one wall with one or more undulations in a radial direction along a length of the tubular volume. The one or more undulations may be configured to allow the tubular volume to absorb energy of a load applied during a flight scenario through local bending of the one or more undulations. The one or more undulations may be configured to have a first curvature when unloaded, and may be configured to have a second curvature when the load is applied. The second curvature may be different than the first curvature. The frame beam member may be one of a plurality of frame beam members of the aircraft seat frame. The plurality of frame beam members may be configured to couple to a plurality of joints of the aircraft seat frame.

Abstract: A first shaft segment and a second shaft segment are joined by a first fastener and a second fastener to form a shaft test assembly. The first shaft segment and the second shaft segment are each curved between first and second circumferential ends. A method of testing a shaft includes displacing a first applicator part relative a second applicator part to exert a load on the shaft test assembly. The resulting shear stress on the shaft test assembly can be measured to determine material properties of the shaft. A first applicator part extends at least partially into the shaft test assembly and interfaces with the first shaft segment to apply a load. A second applicator part extends at least partially into the shaft test assembly and interfaces with the second shaft segment to apply a load.

Abstract: An aircraft heated floor panel includes a first face sheet, a second face sheet opposite the first face sheet, and core with an electrically conductive core portion. The electrically conductive core portion supports the first face sheet and the second face sheet, and is electrically insulated from the external environment to receive electrical power, resistively generate heat, and communicate heat to the first face sheet.

Abstract: A method of forming a component having grooves formed into an outer surface of a component includes the steps of applying at least one mold to an outer surface of a component preform. The mold is forced into contact with the outer surface to form a detent into the outer surface.

Abstract: A method for joining composite rods with tubular shape without expensive, machined connectors and without compromising the structural integrity of the composite rod includes internal and external collars applied to the ends of the composite rod and deformed via unidirectional compressive load applied by a clamp in the radial direction of the composite rod cross-section. The resulting plastic deformation of the metal collars and composite rod interlock those components to support both compressive and tensile loads. The deformed metal collars are easily joinable to other components via off-the-shelf hardware.

Abstract: A mechanical part configured to be placed under torque. The mechanical part includes an inner tube having, a corrugated web, and an outer shell. The inner tube has an outer tube circumference, a tube axial direction, and a tube length. The corrugated web has a plurality of peaks and a plurality of troughs, a height measured as a difference between one of the peaks and one of the troughs, and a web length perpendicular to the height and in the tube axial direction. The outer shell has an inner shell circumference, an outer shell circumference, and a shell length. The plurality of troughs is affixed to the outer circumference of the inner tube. The plurality of peaks is affixed to the inner shell circumference of the outer shell. The web length is aligned with the tube length and the shell length.

Abstract: A drive shaft is for selectively connecting a drive input to an output. The drive shaft has a tubular portion, a first diaphragm member, and a second diaphragm member displaced axially along the shaft from the first diaphragm member. The first and second diaphragm members each are formed with two axial ends. At least one undulation extends radially of the ends. The tubular portion connects the first and second diaphragm members. The first and second diaphragm members and the tubular portion are formed of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites. The first and second diaphragm members are connected to first and second axial ends of the tubular portion through a mechanical connection at joints. There is also a method of forming a drive shaft.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a structured panel. During this method, a cellular core is formed that comprises a corrugated ribbon configured with a plurality of baffles and a plurality of septums. Each of the septums extends longitudinally between and connected to a respective adjacent pair of the baffles. At least one element of the corrugated ribbon includes a structural reinforcement. The forming includes: feeding a ribbon of material between a first roller and a second roller, corrugating the ribbon of material with the first roller and the second roller to provide the baffles and the septums, and stamping the structural reinforcement into the element with the first roller and the second roller. The cellular core is bonded to a first skin. The cellular core is bonded to a second skin. The cellular core is vertically between the first skin and the second skin, and the first skin is configured with a plurality of perforations.

Abstract: An illustrative example elevator control system includes a plurality of sway sensors situated within a hoistway of the building. The sway sensors respectively include a contact surface situated to be contacted by a vertically extending elongated member of an elevator when the elongated member moves laterally in the hoistway. The sway sensors respectively provide an indication of contact between the contact surface and the elongated member. A controller receives an indication of building movement and the indications from the sway sensors. The controller determines whether at least one condition exists in the hoistway based on the indications and implements an adjustment to elevator movement control when the at least one condition exists.

Abstract: An assembly includes a composite body and a load body connected to the composite body by a fastener. The composite body is elongate along a body axis and has a first fastener opening extending radially therethrough. The load body has a second fastener opening extending therethrough. The fastener extends along an insertion axis through the first fastener opening and the second fastener opening to connect the composite body and the first load body together. The fastener has a non-circular cross-section orthogonal to the insertion axis.

Abstract: An assembly includes a composite body and a load body connected to the composite body by a fastener. The composite body is elongate along a body axis and has a first fastener opening extending radially therethrough. The load body has a second fastener opening extending therethrough. The fastener extends along an insertion axis through the first fastener opening and the second fastener opening to connect the composite body and the first load body together. The fastener has a non-circular cross-section orthogonal to the insertion axis.

Abstract: A flexible composite driveshaft is formed by modifying the shape of a preliminary composite driveshaft. A fiber tape is applied to a temporary mandrel using automated fiber placement to form a preliminary composite driveshaft having a flexible shaft element with an initial geometry. The temporary mandrel from the preliminary composite driveshaft is removed and the initial geometry of the flexible shaft element is modified to form the flexible composite driveshaft having a flexible shaft element with a final geometry.

Abstract: A composite structure may comprise a composite core comprising a composite material, and a heat resistant system coupled to the composite core comprising a binder and/or at least one of a heat dissipation material or a thermal barrier material. The heat dissipation material may comprise boron nitride, graphene, graphite, carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, aluminum foil, and/or copper foil, and the thermal barrier material may comprise montmorillonite, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, silicate glass, mica powder or flake, aluminum oxide powder, titanium dioxide powder, and/or zirconium oxide powder. The binder may comprise at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol copolyacetate, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol, polyethylenimine, polyurethane, polyester, or latex.