Patent ID: 8431214

Claim:
A composite sandwich, comprising: a first composite facesheet and a second composite facesheet; and a reinforced core sandwiched between the first composite facesheet and second composite facesheet, the reinforced core including: a plurality of pins arranged in groups forming a truss, wherein the plurality of pins include medial portions extending between the first composite facesheet and the second composite facesheet and distal portions respectively extending generally parallel with and bonded to the first composite facesheet and the second composite facesheet, wherein the plurality of pins further comprise first ends and second ends, and wherein the groups comprise subsets of three or more pins of the plurality of pins that are arranged in a crossing pattern at about the corresponding first ends, are spaced apart at about the corresponding first ends, are substantially circumferentially spaced equally from each other at about the first ends, and wherein each pin of the three or more pins overlaps at least one first other pin of the three or more pins and is overlapped by at least one second other pin of the three or more pins; and a carrier surrounding the pins.