Conformable Braid

摘要

A tubular structure which includes a plurality of axial sites in circular relation to one another and a plurality of bias sites that interconnect the axial sites to form the tubular structure. The tubular structure's axial sites have a greater diameter than the structure's bias sites.

主权项

1. A method of constructing a conformable braided tubular structure comprising:
a plurality of axial sites in circular relation to one another, said axial sites being unbraided tows or braided tows or pultruded rods; and a plurality of bias sites, comprising bias fibers interconnecting said axial sites; wherein the cross-section of the axial sites is greater than the cross-section of the bias sites, wherein the plurality of bias sites loosely interconnects said axial sites to form the tubular structure such that at least some of the axial sites are adapted to roll over each other semi-freely: comprising the steps of: calculating the perimeter of a gap or a complex shape to be filled; calculating the area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled; calculating a number of carriers on a braider based on said calculated perimeter and area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled; calculating a diameter of a circular axial tow based on said calculated perimeter and area of said gap or said complex shape to be filled; fabricating said conformable braid with a plurality of said circular axial tows, wherein said axial tows form a sheath of said conformable braid, said sheath satisfying said perimeter and said area requirements of said gap or said complex shape to be filled when conformed to said gap or said complex shape.