Abstract: A resin behavior analysis apparatus configured to analyze behavior of a fiber when molding a sheet material of a fiber reinforced resin including a fiber bundle which is an assembly of a plurality of the fibers. The apparatus includes: a CPU and a memory connected to the CPU. The CPU is configured to perform: generating a sheet model which is a model of the sheet material; generating a fiber bundle model which is a model of the fiber bundle in the sheet model; generating a fiber model which is a model of the fiber in the fiber bundle model; and analyzing behavior of the fiber model based on a condition for molding the sheet material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel culture which belongs to Actinoplanes (Actinoplanes sp. FERM BP-3832). This culture is capable of producing rapamycin more than ten times efficiently than the cultures which have been reported (e.g., Streptomyces hygroscopicus ATCC 29253). The present invention provides a process for the production of rapamycin which comprises cultivating Actinoplanes sp. FERM BP-3832 and thereafter isolating rapamycin from the fermentation mixture.

Abstract: A light metal composite material reinforced by alumina-silica fibers and a method for producing same. The composite material can have high mechanical qualities such as high workability and high wear resistance as well as high thermal qualities such as high fatigue resistance and high thermal conductivity and can also have high mating performance not to cause much wear of the mating member when the assemblage of alumina-silica fibers incorporated in the composite material as reinforcing members includes not more than 17 wt. % non-fibered particles, particularly not more than 7 wt. % of non-fibered particles of not smaller than 150 microns diameter, and has a virtual density of 0.08-0.3 g/cm.sup.3. The efficiency of production of the composite material is improved by binding the alumina-silica fibers provisionally with one another by an inorganic binder to have a compression strength no lower than 0.2 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: An engine piston is formed with a top crown surface and a top ring groove. An upper annular land surface is defined between the top ring groove and the edge of the top crown surface. The upper annular land surface and the side walls of the top ring groove are defined by a part of the piston which is formed of a matrix metal reinforced with inorganic fibers. The proportion of the inorganic fibers by volume in the reinforced part of the piston may optionally be approximately between 2% and 10%.

Abstract: A method for producing a fiber reinforced composite body, wherein a shaped body of inorganic fiber or a sintered body of metal or ceramic material is placed in a metal mold, and a melt of a metal alloy as a matrix is caused to be penetrated or impregnated into the shaped body by a high pressure solidification casting method so that the matrix may perfectly fill in the voids or pores of the shaped body and solidify to be a desired composite body.