Stretchable fiber-based composite-material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cables and straps made from metal or polymer fibers are either heavy due to high elemental density or bulky, and lack the necessary strength and abrasion resistance for carrying high structural tensile loads.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, axially stretchable composite fiber material is developed, combining high-strength fibers with a low modulus elastomeric matrix to create lightweight, high-strength cables, sheaths, and straps with controlled elongation properties, allowing for non-linear stress curves and fiber rotation under load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal fiber is used for cabling and straps, then strength and abrasion resistance are improved, but weight increases due to higher elemental density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining high-strength fibers (such as aramid, carbon, or glass fibers) with polymer matrices to create a material that achieves metal-level strength while maintaining low weight. The composite structure allows the high-strength fibers to carry the load while the polymer matrix provides structural support and distributes stress, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting fibers with exceptionally high tensile strength and modulus of elasticity, and optimizing the fiber-to-matrix ratio. By controlling fiber orientation, density, and arrangement in the composite, the material achieves strength comparable to metal while maintaining the inherent weight advantages of polymer-based systems.
2Weight of moving object
If polymer fiber is used for cabling and straps, then weight is reduced, but bulkiness increases compared to metal counterparts
Solution Approach 1:
The use of composite materials with high-strength fibers enables the polymer-based system to achieve greater density and strength, reducing the cross-sectional area and overall volume required to carry the same load compared to conventional polymer fibers. This resolves the bulkiness issue while maintaining the weight advantage.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional woven sheaths are configured for abrasion resistance, then protection is improved, but strength for carrying high structural tensile loads deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the functions of different components: the polymer matrix and surface treatment provide abrasion resistance, while the high-strength fibers are specifically oriented and configured to carry tensile loads. This functional differentiation allows the sheath to excel at both protection and load-bearing without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite structure allows the matrix to handle surface-level abrasion while the embedded high-strength fibers handle structural tensile loads, resolving the contradiction between abrasion resistance and tensile strength that plagues conventional single-material sheaths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite material achieves high strength and flexibility, minimizing weight and bulk while providing controlled elongation and stress distribution, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable matrix having a first modulus of elasticity
Implementation Method 2
The first fibers have a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first modulus of elasticity and exceeding approximately 2 Mpsi
Implementation Method 3
The composite material has a non-linear stress curve relative to elongation of the material between the retraced and extended positions
Data Source
AI summary
An axially stretchable fiber-reinforced composite material, comprising an elastically deformable matrix having a low modulus of elasticity, and a fabric core encapsulated by the matrix. The core comprises first fibers interlaced with second fibers, with the first fibers being in a non-parallel orientation relative to the material's longitudinal axis, and the second fibers are non-parallel relative to the first fibers when the composite material is in a retracted position. The composite material is stretchable between the retracted and extended positions. The fibers have a high modulus of elasticity. The composite material has a non-linear modulus relative to elongation of the composite material between the retraced and extended positions. Movement of the material toward the extended position causes the first and second fibers to rotate relative to each other and in a direction toward alignment with the longitudinal axis, and the matrix material biases the composite material toward the retracted position.