This paper reports on the production and evaluation of a new class of “Z-axis” composite sandwich panel where the core consists of a dense array of vertically-aligned, 3 mm long E-glass fibre composite “beams”. The E-glass fibre bundles were aligned using electrostatic charging. A procedure was developed to retain the orientation of the short-fibre bundles whilst they were impregnated and cured with an epoxy/amine resin system. The skins were manufactured from 4-ply carbon/epoxy prepregs with a layup sequence of (0,90)s. The out-of-plane compressive strength of these Z-axis composites was found to be 25.2 and 15.2 times greater than equivalent sandwich panels made with Nomex® and aluminium honeycomb cores respectively. Their compressive strength was found to increase in proportion to the density of the core. Buckling and fracture of the vertically-aligned Z-axis composite were the predominant failure modes observed. The shear and flexural properties of the Z-axis composites were comparable to equivalent honeycomb sandwich panels manufactured from Nomex® and aluminium honeycomb cores.

SUMMARY Children with motor handicaps from early infancy were compared with other physically handicapped children of the same age‐range, attending the same school. When the uncontrolled variables of age and intelligence were allowed for there was a significant difference between the two groups in the acquisition of reading and arithmetic skills. The predictive validity of the Stanford‐Binet IQS was shown to be lower for the children with early motor handicaps than for those with other physical handicaps. It is hypothesised that prediction of response to educational opportunity by such tests as the Stanford‐Binet may be invalidated by perceptual deficiencies. RÉSUMÉ On a comparé deux groupes d'enfants approximativement du même âge et allant à la même école; le premier était constitué d'enfants atteints d'handicaps moteurs datant de la première enfance, le deuxieme d'enfants atteints d'autres handicaps physiques. Compte tenu des variables non controlées d'âge et d'intelligence, une différence significative est apparue entre les deux groupes. La valeur de prédiction des quotients d'intelligence de Stanford‐Binet des enfants atteints d'handicaps moteurs datant de la première enfance s'est révélée inférieure à celle des quotients d'intelligence des enfants atteints d'autres handicaps physiques. On a émit l'hypothèse que les déficiences de perception pourraient empècher en grandé partie la prédiction de la réponse à l'opportunité d'éducation par des tests semblables à ceux de Stanford‐Binet.