Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for circumferentially measuring cross-sectional characteristics of a tubular member. The apparatus includes first and second template members that cooperably define an aperture for receiving the tubular member. At least one of the template members is adjustable so that the aperture can be adjusted between open and closed positions. A measurement device can be configured to detect the relative position of the first and second template members, thereby measuring the relative adjustment of the members between the open and closed positions. This measurement is indicative of the cross-sectional size of the tubular member, e.g., for determining the diameter of the tubular member. Alternatively, multiple measurement devices can respond to a contact force between the measurement devices and the tubular member, e.g., to determine a variation in wall thickness of the tubular member.

Abstract: A hybrid composite structure is formed from layers of gore strips (12), polymeric matrix composite (71) comprising a resin impregnated slit tape or tow, and a central honeycomb layer formed from a plurality of rectangular sections (72). The first two steps include forming a plurality of the gore strips and providing a mold, or lay-up mandrel (10). Thereafter, a first set of gore strips is applied to the lay-up mandrel to form a first gore strip layer. Subsequently, the composite material in form of resin impregnated slit tape or tow is applied to the first gore strip layer to form a first composite material layer. Next, a second set of gore strips is applied to the first layer of polymeric matrix composite, opposite the first gore strip layer, to form at least one other gore strip layer. This creates a first sandwich structure having gore strips as the first and last layers of the structure. Thereafter, the layer of honeycomb material is applied to the last layer of the first sandwich structure.