The invention relates to a device and a method for semi-continuous blow moulding of fiber-reinforced, thermoplastic, endless, hollow-profile-shaped components with longitudinally constant or varying cross-sections, consisting of at least one consolidation tool, which, in its closed state, encloses a preform enclosing an elastically moldable pressure chamber.

A die assembly for forming a composite gap filler, including a first die having a first portion which extends along a first central axis of the first die and has a first curved surface which has a radius which changes as the first curved surface extends about the first central axis. A second die a second portion which extends along a second central axis of the second die and has a second curved surface which has a radius which changes as the second curved surface extends about the second central axis. A third die defines a third wall member which extends about the third die and which changes in width dimension wherein with the first die abutting the second die and with the third wall member abutting the first and second dies, a closed gap is formed.

A stiffening element comprises a tension and compression member, a shear member, an attachment member, and a plurality of beads. The tension and compression member is positioned spaced apart from the skin and configured to bear tension or compression forces that stiffen the skin and prevent the skin from buckling or bending. The shear member is connected to the tension and compression member and configured to bear shear forces between the skin and the tension and compression member. The attachment member is connected to the shear member and is configured to connect to the skin. The beads each create out-of-plane feature that is positioned in at least one of the shear member and the attachment member. The beads permit the stiffening element be reshaped to adjust a longitudinal curvature of the stiffening element.

Straight plastic profiles from a plastics material and a continuous reinforcement are predominantly produced continuously in a strand, usually by the pultrusion method. As the plastic profile is pulled through a mold, only straight plastic profiles are formed in known pultrusion methods. In the production of plastic profiles using semi-finished products or complex fibrous constructions, congestion of the fibrous constructions or of the semi-finished products, and thus solidification of the material, may arise when entering the mold, such that the process has to be stopped. A method and a device for the simple production of individually molded plastic profiles is provided in that the mold is formed from at least two mold parts that in relation to the cross section of the plastic profile are split and are moved in a temporally offset manner counter to a production direction of the plastic profile along a portion of the plastic profile.

A structure comprising a space frame including a plurality of strut sections which cross at one or more locations within the space frame to define a node at each respective crossing location, wherein the strut sections are laminates comprising a plurality of ply layers, and wherein the ply layers of the crossing strut sections are interleaved at the node(s). Also a method of forming the structure. Also An aerofoil structure, comprising a space frame defining a cage adapted to receive upper and lower covers so as to form upper and lower aerodynamic surfaces of the aerofoil, and at least one spar extending generally spanwise across the structure, wherein the spar includes a spar web and upper and lower spar caps, and wherein the spar web is disposed on one of an interior or exterior side of the cage, and the spar caps are attached to the other of the interior or exterior side of the cage.

A bladder mandrel package, used to manufacture a composite structure, includes a mandrel and a wrap ply, surrounding the mandrel to form a wrapped mandrel. The bladder mandrel package also includes a first radius filler, coupled to the wrap ply at a first radius of the wrapped mandrel, and a second radius filler coupled to the wrap ply at a second radius of the wrapped mandrel. The mandrel, the wrap ply, the first radius filler, and the second radius filler are consolidated to from the bladder mandrel package.

A system for manufacturing a composite assembly includes a first mandrel, a second mandrel, a first wrap plate, and a second wrap plate. The first wrap plate and the second wrap plate are positionable in side-by-side relation for receiving a wrap material stack. The first wrap plate and/or the second wrap plate are translatable to a wrap plate open position defining a wrap plate gap between the first and second wrap plate surface edge for receiving a bladder. The second mandrel is translatable to a mandrel open position defining a mandrel gap between the first and second mandrel surface edge. The wrap plate gap and the mandrel gap are configured to receive the wrap material stack formed around a bladder. The first and second wrap plate are configured to fold a first and second material stack base portion into overlapping relation with each other on the bladder top.

A pultrudate (1) with fibres running in the longitudinal direction (L) and a resin matrix which surrounds the fibres, and a top and a bottom side (2, 4), wherein the top side (2) has continuous elevations (5) and/or grooves (3) and the bottom side (4) has continuous grooves (3) or elevations (5), which are arranged such that elevations (5) and grooves (3) of one pultrudate (1) interact with grooves (3) and elevations (5) of the adjacent pultrudate (1′).

A stiffening element comprises a tension and compression member, a shear member, an attachment member, and a plurality of beads. The tension and compression member is positioned spaced apart from the skin and configured to bear tension or compression forces that stiffen the skin and prevent the skin from buckling or bending. The shear member is connected to the tension and compression member and configured to bear shear forces between the skin and the tension and compression member. The attachment member is connected to the shear member and is configured to connect to the skin. The beads each create out-of-plane feature that is positioned in at least one of the shear member and the attachment member. The beads permit the stiffening element be reshaped to adjust a longitudinal curvature of the stiffening element.

In an example, a composite stringer is described. The composite stringer includes a skin flange having a first gage, a top flange having a second gage, and a web having a third gage and extending between the skin flange and the top flange. The skin flange is configured to be coupled to a support structure. The support structure includes at least one of a skin of a vehicle or a base charge. The second gage of the top flange is greater than the first gage of the skin flange and the third gage of the web. The skin flange, the top flange, and the web include a plurality of plies of composite material.