Method and apparatus for shipping braided composite reinforcing fabric

A method of wrapping multiple layers of a triaxially braided fabric having a multiplicity of axial yarns of varying length, braided therein, upon a cylindrical storage spool wherein said axial yarns are wrapped circumferentially about the cylindrical storage spool comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a triaxially braided fabric having a multiplicity of axial yarns of varying length,
• b) wrapping a first layer of conformable, shape memory, compressible foam about the circumferential periphery of said cylindrical spool,
• c) wrapping a first layer of triaxially braided fabric with said axial yarns wrapping circumferentially about said first layer of conformable, shape memory, compressible foam while applying a separate tensile force to each separate and individual axial yarn as the braided fabric wraps around said cylindrical storage spool,
• d) over laying said first layer of said triaxially braided fabric with a second layer of conformable, shape memory, compressible foam,
• e) over lying a second layer of triaxially braided fabric over lying said second layer of conformable, shape memory, compressible foam,
• f) repeating steps d and e until the desired layers of triaxial braided fabric have been applied to said storage spool while maintaining a substantially constant radius ratios between the spool and varying length axial yarns as the braided fabric diameter increases upon the spool.