| abstract |
A composite laminated generally cylindrical container for over-the-road transportation of liquids by truck is fabricated using a core of cellular thermoplastic expanded foam material, with an encapsulating layer adhered to each of the interior and exterior surfaces. The encapsulating layers of the cylindrical portion each utilise at least one layer of resin-impregnated unidirectional filament material, with the primary filaments extending in the longitudinal direction to provide bending strength, and a plurality of layers of spirally wound, resin-impregnated filaments to resist shear, torsion and external and internal pressure. The core and the encapsulating layers define a bonded sandwich type of construction. The container can be supported only at its forward and rearward ends during over-the-road transportation of liquids, like presently available stainless steal containers. |