Patent ID: 8763253

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a composite elongate member having a side configured for attachment to a surface of a structure; a channel on the side extending along a length of the composite elongate member; and a number of composite structures configured for placement in the channel and configured to attach a portion of the side of the composite elongate member to the structure, wherein the number of composite structures has layers oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface of the structure and is configured to increase a capacity of the composite elongate member to withstand forces that pull the composite elongate member away from the structure, wherein the number of composite structures have, in cross-section, a shape and a structure, wherein the shape and the structure comprises: a first section having a first trapezoidal shape, and composed of a first plurality of layers of tape arranged, with respect to an axis of the trapezoidal shape, at angles of 0 degrees, −45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 45 degrees; a second section connected to the first section and having a second trapezoidal shape different than the first trapezoidal shape, and composed of a second plurality of layers of tape arranged, with respect to an axis of the trapezoidal shape, at angles of 0 degrees, −45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 45 degrees, wherein a first arrangement of angles in the first section is the same as a second arrangement of angles in the second section; and a third section connected to the second section opposite the first section and having a triangular shape, and composed of a third plurality of layers of tape arranged, with respect to an axis of the trapezoidal shape, at angles of 0 degrees, −45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 45 degrees, and wherein the first arrangement of angles in the first section is the same as a third arrangement of angles in the third section.