Abstract: A reinforced foam core sandwich structure including opposing face sheets, a foam core therebetween, and tow members encapsulated within the foam core and extending between the opposing face sheets to form a combined foam/tow member core wherein the compressive strength or shear strength of the combined foam/tow member core is greater than the compressive strength or shear strength, respectively, of the foam core alone or the tow members alone forming a support structure within the foam core between the face sheets.

Abstract: A method of joining composite parts including disposing reinforcing elements through the thickness of two composite adherends to be joined, at least a number of the reinforcing elements extending from the joint surface of each adherend; assembling the adherends so the joint surface of one faces the joint surface of the other defining a joint region therebetween, wherein the extending reinforcing elements are interstitially disposed in the joint region; and disposing an adherent within the joint region about the interstitially disposed reinforcing elements and the joint surface for providing an improved and reinforced joint.