Structural panel for bridging between spaced supports

Abstract

A method for forming a structural panel such as for a bridge deck includes providing a first and a second sheet formed by fibers and settable resin and laminating the sheets with a plurality of parallel side by side connection members. The connection members are formed by filament winding around a core using primarily a large wind angle followed by a final shallow angle of wrap. The connection members are triangular in cross section and each is inverted relative to the next so that the sides are in contact. The connection members are connected together while the resin is uncured so that during lamination they cure together to allow integration of the resin, close matching of the shapes so that the resin at the junction remains thin and intermingling of the filaments. The connection members are dry wound on a core and the resin is applied by infusion. The core carries reinforcing members to tailor strength as required along the length of the member. The panels are arranged side by side to form a bridge deck and are connected edge to edge with suitable center connection at the crown and suitable curbing at the sides.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.