Composite tubular elements

A composite shaft for transmitting forces comprising:

• a tubular metal core having a layer of structural metal adhesive on the circumference of the tubular metal core in an amount ranging from about 0.020 to about 0.040 lb/ft.sup.2, said tubular metal core having a first end and a second end and a mid-section;
• a plurality of layers of laminated sheet material being circumferentially disposed around said metal core, said plurality of layers of laminated sheet material varying in number along the length of the tubular core so that the wall thickness along the length of the tubular core varies with the greatest thickness being disposed at substantially the mid-section of the shaft and decreasing in thickness outwardly to the first end and said second end of said shaft, said plurality of layers of said laminated sheet material consisting of alternating layers of woven fiberglass cloth and resin-impregnated unidirectional continuous reinforcing fibers, the fibers in said fiber-reinforcing sheet material being selected from carbon and graphite fibers, each layer of said resin-impregnated fibers being disposed at an angle of orientation between about 5.degree. and 20.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular metal core, but in opposite angular orientation with respect to the next preceding layer of said resin-impregnated fibers, said layers of woven fiberglass cloth being oriented at 0.degree. and 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tubular metal core.