Twisted Fiber Strand Structure for Bending-Resistant Tensile Strength

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-strength fiber composites, such as those made from carbon or basalt fibers, are prone to breaking under bending stress, especially when wound around a drum or used as a rope, leading to a reduction in tensile strength and potential length fluctuations, which compromises their inherent strength.

Innovation Solution

A strand structure comprising twisted high-strength fiber composites with a core of bundled yarns stiffened by a thermoplastic resin and wrapped with a constraint, which is also stiffened, maintains the yarns' integrity and prevents untwisting or breaking under external forces, ensuring consistent tensile strength even under bending stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If high-strength fiber composites are used under bending stress (wound around drum or as rope), then flexibility and handling are improved, but tensile strength deteriorates due to fiber breakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling propertiesVSAvoidtensile strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure combining high-strength fibers (carbon, basalt, or aramid) with a thermoplastic resin matrix. The resin penetrates and binds the fiber bundles, creating a composite material that maintains fiber strength while providing flexibility. This composite structure prevents fiber breakage under bending stress, resolving the contradiction between handling flexibility and tensile strength retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state of the resin from liquid (during impregnation) to solid (after curing) to transform the properties of the fiber bundle. The cured resin provides rigid support to the fiber bundles, preventing them from breaking under bending stress, thus maintaining tensile strength while enabling flexible handling when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If high-strength fiber bundles are twisted to improve handling, then flexibility is improved, but yarn integrity deteriorates leading to untwisting and length fluctuations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling propertiesVSAvoidyarn integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The resin undergoes a parameter change from liquid to solid state, transforming the flexible fiber bundle into a structurally stable composite. The solidified resin locks the twisted configuration in place, preventing untwisting and length fluctuations, while still allowing the overall structure to be handled flexibly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite material formed by resin-impregnated fiber bundles provides both the flexibility needed for handling and the structural integrity to maintain twisted configurations. The resin matrix binds the fibers together, preventing individual yarns from separating or fluctuating in length during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution enhances the handling properties and strength of high-strength fiber composites, allowing them to maintain tensile strength when subjected to bending stress, preventing breakage and length fluctuations, and enabling their use as wires or ropes without significant strength reduction.

Implementation Method 1

a bundle of high-strength fiber yarns, the bundle being twisted and stiffened with a stiffening agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResin impregnation and stiffening: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3006611B1Strand structure, and multi-strand structure
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 KOMATSU SEIREN CO LTD
  • EP3006611B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3006611B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3006611B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~5A

AI summary

Provided are a high-strength fiber composite and an applied product thereof, whereby it is possible for the inherent tensile strength of high-strength fiber yarns to be obtained, even when used in applications in which bending stress occurs, such as wires, or when stored while wound around a drum or the like. This high-strength fiver composite has a core produced by imparting twist to a high-strength fiver bundle produced by bundling high-strength fiber yarns, and a stiffening the twisted high-strength fiber bundle with a stiffening agent. In this high-strength fiber composite, the high-strength fiber yarns are resistant to breakage even when flexed, have a superior shearing strength, and can maintain the inherent tensile strength of high-strength fibers, even when used in applications in which bending stress occurs, such as wires, or when stored while wound onto a drum or the like. The strand structure, which has a strand construction composed of two or more of the high-strength fiber composites twisted together, maintains the inherent strength of the high-strength fibers, and affords more consistent tensile strength, as compared with when an equal number of high-strength fiber composites lacking the strand construction are used.