A method for preparing a part using a rigid tool surface having a shape. The method includes applying a breather sheet comprising gas-permeable material over the rigid tool surface. A vacuum bag is applied over the breather sheet, and a vacuum pressure is applied underneath the vacuum bag to conform the breather sheet and the vacuum bag to the shape of the rigid tool surface. A resin pre-impregnated ply is applied over the vacuum bag, and the part is positioned over the ply.

Methods and systems are disclosed for onsite real-time manufacturing of any length, shape, size, and any thickness pipe; placing it inside an existing pipe or conduit to be repaired and/or reinforced; and filling the annular space between the manufactured and the existing pipe or conduit with desired filling materials. Strips of fabrics saturated with resin are helically wrapped around desired shape mandrels in one direction and removed, at least partially cured, to form such pipes onsite. Manufactured pipes eliminate almost all weaknesses of plastic, metal and concrete pipes and noticeably reduce costs of transportation as well as manufacturing. One of the advantages of the manufactured pipes is that they have no joints, limiting the leakage and other problems associated with joints in ordinary pipes. Another advantage of the manufactured pipes is that it can have any number of desired layers at any desire cross-section of the manufactured pipe.

A method and apparatus (14) for assembling a reinforcement web (12) for use with a wind turbine blade (10) are provided. A pre-formed flange structure (20) to be integrated with laminate layers (58, 60) to form the reinforcement web (12) is clamped into position against a mould end surface (76) using one or more locating clamps (16). The locating clamps (16) include first and second clamp blocks (80, 82) that are shaped to provide an external profile that avoids resin collection and bridging during resin injection molding, while allowing for clamping to be applied to the flange structure (20) with an easily assembled and disassembled removable engagement of the clamp blocks (80, 82). The locating clamp (16) prevents undesirable dislodgment of the flange structure (20) during the assembly process for the reinforcement web (12), and without necessitating the use of complex or expensive molding equipment or processes.

A method and apparatus (14) for assembling a reinforcement web (12) for use with a wind turbine blade (10) are provided. A pre-formed flange structure (20) to be integrated with laminate layers (58, 60) to form the reinforcement web (12) is clamped into position against a mould end surface (76) using one or more locating clamps (16). The locating clamps (16) include first and second clamp blocks (80, 82) that are shaped to provide an external profile that avoids resin collection and bridging during resin injection molding, while allowing for clamping to be applied to the flange structure (20) with an easily assembled and disassembled removable engagement of the clamp blocks (80, 82). The locating clamp (16) prevents undesirable dislodgment of the flange structure (20) during the assembly process for the reinforcement web (12), and without necessitating the use of complex or expensive molding equipment or processes.

A composite part is provided and includes a component, a first set of first composite plies with finite lengths and a second set of second composite plies with finite lengths. A respective end of each of the first composite plies is wrapped around the component in a clockwise wrapping direction and includes first fibers. A respective end of each of the second composite plies is wrapped around the component in a counter-clockwise wrapping direction and includes second fibers.

A composite part is provided and includes a component, a first set of first composite plies with finite lengths and a second set of second composite plies with finite lengths. A respective end of each of the first composite plies is wrapped around the component in a clockwise wrapping direction and includes first fibers. A respective end of each of the second composite plies is wrapped around the component in a counter-clockwise wrapping direction and includes second fibers.

An improved composite stiffener and methods and tooling used to form the same. The stiffener includes one or more base flanges, a composite rod extending in an axial direction, a bulb cap surrounding the composite rod, and an upright web extending from the one or more base flanges to the base cap. The upright web includes a non-linear profile in the axial direction providing the improved lateral stiffness. The method includes providing tooling including a first compression tool extending in the axial direction and including a first web portion having a non-linear profile, and a second compression tool extending in the axial direction and including a second web portion having a non-linear profile. Plies are placed within the tooling and compressed such that at least a portion of plurality of plies are compressed in the web forming portion thereby forming a web of the bulb stiffener having a non-linear profile.

A ball bat includes a continuous tape of fiber material wrapped around the longitudinal axis in a helix extending along the longitudinal axis. Interlaminar interfaces between adjacent turns of the tape are oriented obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the ball bat includes a preform structure, the tape being wrapped around the preform structure. In some embodiments, the ball bat includes a flared element on the preform structure. An end of the continuous tape may be positioned on an angled surface of the flared element. An outer skin may be positioned over the tape. Methods of making ball bats may include attaching a first end of a fiber tape to a flared element on a preform structure or a mandrel and wrapping the fiber tape around the preform structure or mandrel in a helix extending along the longitudinal axis of the preform structure or mandrel.

Techniques for inlaying a composite material within a tooling shell are disclosed. In one aspect, an additively manufactured tooling shell is provided, into which a composite material is inlaid and cured. A surface of the tooling shell is provided with indentations or another mechanism to enable adherence between the composite material and the tooling shell. The resulting integrated structure is used as a component in a transport structure.

Provided is a method for producing a high-pressure tank that is capable of suppressing entry of a resin in a stiffener layer into the boundary between a liner body and a mouthpiece, and also offers excellent productivity. The method for producing a high-pressure tank includes disposing a resin sheet on a liner body having a mouthpiece, the resin sheet covering a gap between an outer circumferential portion of the mouthpiece and the liner body, and heating the resin sheet and welding the resin sheet to the mouthpiece and the liner body, to make a liner; and forming a fiber layer around the outer circumference of the liner, the fiber layer being impregnated with a resin, and curing the resin, wherein the softening point of a material constituting the resin sheet is higher than the maximum temperature that is reached by the liner due to heating of the resin.