Abstract: A flooring assembly (100) for a compartment floor includes a panel (104) made up of a first skin (126), a second skin (128) positioned below the first skin, and a core (120) encapsulated within the panel between the first and second skins and peripheral closeouts (124). A heat dissipation layer (116) is provided in the flooring assembly at or above the first skin.

Abstract: A ribbed balsa sheet including a plurality of end-grain balsa strips arranged side-by-side to define a sheet plane, with the balsa grain oriented perpendicular to the sheet plane, and a number of reinforced resin ribs, each one of the reinforced resin ribs being arranged between an adjacent pair of the balsa strips to bond together and space apart the balsa strips.

Abstract: A panel has an exterior face thereof adapted for attachment to a support frame and an interior face thereof adapted for defining a boundary of a compartment. The panel includes a core encapsulated within a panel frame of reinforced phenolic material, the core having first and second faces thereof, and a periphery. The panel frame includes first and second skins attached to the first and second faces of the core. One or more closeouts are disposed between the skins about the periphery of the core, with the one or more closeouts being attached to the first and second skins. A heating element is adjacent the interior face of the panel.

Abstract: A flame retardant panel apparatus, and method, utilize a flame retardant panel, having an exterior and an interior face thereof, with the panel including a panel structure having a primary core encapsulated within a panel frame of reinforced phenolic material, and a layer of flame retardant material attached to the panel structure and extending outwardly therefrom to at least partially define an exterior face of the flame retardant panel. The flame retardant panel is suitable for use in mass transit conveyances, such as subway cars, high speed cars, rail cars, buses, rapid response vehicles, marine vessels, and elevators.

Abstract: A flame retardant panel apparatus, and method, utilize a flame retardant panel, having an exterior and an interior face thereof, with the panel including a panel structure having a primary core encapsulated within a panel frame of reinforced phenolic material, and a layer of flame retardant material attached to the panel structure and extending outwardly therefrom to at least partially define an exterior face of the flame retardant panel. The flame retardant panel is suitable for use in mass transit conveyances, such as subway cars, high speed cars, rail cars, buses, rapid response vehicles, marine vessels, and elevators.

Abstract: A mass transit flooring assembly including a plurality of sandwich panels. The sandwich panels (30) include a top skin (54), a bottom skin (58), a perimeter defining closeout (46), and a core (50) between the top (54) and bottom skin (58) and within the closeout parameter (46). The closeout (46) includes mating surfaces used to connect adjacent panels. The core is a precured reinforced core including a plurality of phenolic ribs and foam strips positioned in an alternating fashion. The precured core is manufactured by impregnating a layer of fabric with phenolic resin between two foam cores and stacking in a similar alternating fashion to create a bun. After the bun is cured at a constant pressure and temperature and cooled, the bun is cut along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the layers to provide a precured reinforced core panel ready to be inserted as a core in a sandwich panel.