Sara Black Senior Technical Editor Emeritus

Aerospace 30 Aug 2013

Optimization software improves small, low-cost satellite design

Ames Research Center’s (Moffett Field, Calif.) designs and builds a low-cost, small spacecraft on a quick turnaround, using a modular strategy based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts and with the aid of several design software packages and finite element solvers.

Construction 1 Aug 2013

Cast polymer categories

The cast polymer industry is multifaceted. Its many products, however, can be grouped into three general categories, differentiated by the materials and manufacturing methods used to make them.

Construction 1 Aug 2013

Cast polymer market: On the upswing

Postrecession, this commodity industry is emerging stronger and going global as competitive pressures encourage innovation.

Carbon Fibers 1 Jul 2013

Spread-tow carbon fabrics reduce mass in America’s Cup catamaran

To meet its weight and cost goals for this year's America's Cup, cup defenders ORACLE TEAM USA turned to Oxeon AB’s (Borås, Sweden) trademarked TeXtreme Spread Tow carbon reinforcements.

Wind/Energy 1 Jun 2013

Japan: Floating wind farm

Since the 2011 tsunami and related nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, that country’s political leaders have provided incentives for development of floating offshore wind farms in the deep water offshore of Japan's coastline.

Aerospace 1 Jun 2013

Fair winds for offshore wind farms

Innovations in blades, turbines and foundations are helping spur growth in a very big way.

Wind/Energy 1 Jun 2013

Redefining the root

As part of a radical redesign effort that has produced a segmented blade, Blade Dynamics Ltd. (Cowes, Isle of Wight, U.K.) developed a thinner, less weighty root than that seen in conventional blades.

Construction 1 Jun 2013

GFRP rebar replaces steel in parking garage

Composite rebar in replacement concrete slab the key in life-extending and less-costly structural rehabilitation project.

Prepregs 31 May 2013

LFI process: Molding strong and attractive spa enclosures

Dynasty Spas (Athens, Tenn.) finds a composite alternative to wood hot tub surrounds in a polyurethane (PU)-based long fiber injection (LFI) solution implemented by Romeo RIM Inc. (Romeo, Mich.).

Adhesives 2 May 2013

After lightning strikes: Repair considerations

When lightning does strike, aircraft LSP system repairs must be done correctly to ensure restoration of protection.

Aerospace 2 May 2013

Nano-enhanced LSP?

Niles Nanofabrix, a recently unveiled new material from metal mesh provider Niles International (Niles, Ohio), offers a potential nanotechnology solution for lightning strike protection strategists.