US Patent 11976768 Composite reinforcement of tubular structures

Systems and methods for reinforcement of tubular structures via composite internal dowels are provided herein. The hardening of a curable fill inside a flexible sleeve provides conformal contact between the resulting dowel and the surrounding tubular structure. Permeation of the fill through the sleeve may improve the bond. Attachment of the sleeve to a narrower tube may allow for precise positioning of the sleeve as well as a reduction in the amount of fill required. Ultimately, the internal dowels may extend past a degraded section of the tubular structure from a selected lower limit below the degraded section to a selected upper limit above the degraded section.