The present invention relates to a root end assembly (100) for incorporating a plurality of fastening members (74) into the root end of a wind turbine blade shell part during a moulding operation. The root end assembly (100) comprises a mounting plate (70) with a plurality of apertures (72) and a plurality of sheath members (83), each sheath member being disposed in a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures (72). Connection members (78) are received in the sheath members (83), and a plurality of said fastening members (74) are releasably attached to a respective connection member of the plurality of connection members (78) such that the fastening members (74) extend substantially normal to a first surface (77) of the mounting plate (70). The apertures (72) are dimensioned for allowing translational movement of the sheath members (83) in the respective apertures (72).

A method for producing a composite material molded article includes a process of, from a solution in which reinforcing fibers with an average fiber length of 0.5 mm or more and thermosetting resin are dispersed and mixed in a solvent, removing the solvent by paper-making to form a preform, and a process of press molding the obtained preform using a mold set at a temperature equal to or higher than a curing temperature of the thermosetting resin to form the composite material molded article.

A method for producing a composite material molded article includes a process of, from a solution in which reinforcing fibers with an average fiber length of 0.5 mm or more and thermosetting resin are dispersed and mixed in a solvent, removing the solvent by paper-making to form a preform, and a process of press molding the obtained preform using a mold set at a temperature equal to or higher than a curing temperature of the thermosetting resin to form the composite material molded article.

In an example, a method of shimming an uncured substructure for assembly is disclosed. The method comprises emitting a signal from an inspection system proximate a mating surface of the substructure, detecting a reflection of the signal with the inspection system, generating a data set based on detecting the reflection of the signal, the data set representing a shape of the mating surface, determining distances between a plurality of points on the mating surface and respective points on an inner surface of a support structure based on the data set, generating filler dimension data based on the distances, wherein the filler dimension data includes a varying thickness, shaping a filler structure with a computer numerical controlled shaping device using the filler dimension data, adhering a first surface of the filler structure to the mating surface of the substructure to form a shimmed substructure subassembly, and curing the shimmed substructure subassembly.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one consolidated fibrous insert having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier will be a mass of activatable material.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one consolidated fibrous insert having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier will be a mass of activatable material.

A construct for a hockey blade formed from layers of sheet molding compound material. The sheet molding compound material may be manufactured to have longer average fiber lengths entrained within the sheet molding compound material with random orientation in order to enhance the mechanical properties of the formed hockey stick blade.

A construct for a hockey blade formed from layers of sheet molding compound material. The sheet molding compound material may be manufactured to have longer average fiber lengths entrained within the sheet molding compound material with random orientation in order to enhance the mechanical properties of the formed hockey stick blade.

A vehicle trunk comprises: a first trunk part forming at least a first wall of the vehicle trunk, the first trunk part including a thermoplastic elastomer material, wherein the first trunk part is at least partially collapsible to facilitate installation of the vehicle trunk into an undercut region of a vehicle; and a second trunk part forming at least a second wall of the vehicle trunk, wherein the first and second trunk parts define an interior of the vehicle trunk, and wherein the second trunk part includes a fiber-reinforced polymer material.

A vehicle trunk comprises: a first trunk part forming at least a first wall of the vehicle trunk, the first trunk part including a thermoplastic elastomer material, wherein the first trunk part is at least partially collapsible to facilitate installation of the vehicle trunk into an undercut region of a vehicle; and a second trunk part forming at least a second wall of the vehicle trunk, wherein the first and second trunk parts define an interior of the vehicle trunk, and wherein the second trunk part includes a fiber-reinforced polymer material.