A method of forming a composite preform containing multiple laminates is disclosed. The method may include providing a first sublaminate comprising stacked fibers woven into a fabric; providing a second sublaminate comprising stacked fibers woven into a fabric; joining the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate forming a component comprising a region of discontinuity sandwiched between the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate; rigidizing the component; and softening the region between the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate. In illustrative embodiments, the method may include manipulating the region of discontinuity between the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate to reduce the incoherence between the sublaminates by moving fibers from the sublaminates through at least part of the region between the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate.

A method of forming a composite preform containing multiple laminates is disclosed. The method may include providing a first sublaminate comprising stacked fibers woven into a fabric; providing a second sublaminate comprising stacked fibers woven into a fabric; joining the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate forming a component comprising a region of discontinuity sandwiched between the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate; rigidizing the component; and softening the region between the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate. In illustrative embodiments, the method may include manipulating the region of discontinuity between the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate to reduce the incoherence between the sublaminates by moving fibers from the sublaminates through at least part of the region between the first sublaminate and the second sublaminate.

A process is provided for thermal molding an article with at least one layer of thermoplastic fibers that are non-woven and uni-directionally oriented in combination with at least one layer of reinforcing fibers. The reinforcing fibers including glass, carbon, nature based, and combinations thereof; alone or mixed with chopped thermoplastic fibers. Upon subjecting the layers to sufficient heat to thermally bond in the presence of non-oriented filler fibers, thermoplastic fiber fusion encapsulates the filler fibers. The filler fibers impart physical properties to the resulting article and the residual unidirectional orientation of the thermoplastic melt imparts physical properties in the fiber direction to the article. By combining layers with varying orientations of uni-directional fibers relative to one another, the physical properties of the resulting article may be controlled and extended relative to conventional thermoplastic moldings. The uni-directional fibers may have discontinuities along the length of individual fibers.

A process is provided for thermal molding an article with at least one layer of thermoplastic fibers that are non-woven and uni-directionally oriented in combination with at least one layer of reinforcing fibers. The reinforcing fibers including glass, carbon, nature based, and combinations thereof; alone or mixed with chopped thermoplastic fibers. Upon subjecting the layers to sufficient heat to thermally bond in the presence of non-oriented filler fibers, thermoplastic fiber fusion encapsulates the filler fibers. The filler fibers impart physical properties to the resulting article and the residual unidirectional orientation of the thermoplastic melt imparts physical properties in the fiber direction to the article. By combining layers with varying orientations of uni-directional fibers relative to one another, the physical properties of the resulting article may be controlled and extended relative to conventional thermoplastic moldings. The uni-directional fibers may have discontinuities along the length of individual fibers.

Methods of joining components to form vehicle assemblies, such as engine assemblies, are provided. The methods include arranging a first component having a first channel defined therein in a mold, arranging a second component having a second channel defined therein in the mold, and aligning the first and second channel to define a pin-receiving channel. At least one polymeric composite pin is inserted into the pin-receiving channel thereby joining the first and second components, wherein an adhesive is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the polymeric composite pin.

Methods of joining components to form vehicle assemblies, such as engine assemblies, are provided. The methods include arranging a first component having a first channel defined therein in a mold, arranging a second component having a second channel defined therein in the mold, and aligning the first and second channel to define a pin-receiving channel. At least one polymeric composite pin is inserted into the pin-receiving channel thereby joining the first and second components, wherein an adhesive is disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the polymeric composite pin.

A joining method for joining a first member having a hole that is opened on at least one surface, to a second member including a material of which a melting temperature is lower than that of a constituent material of the first member, includes: laminating the second member on the first member so as to cover an opening of the hole; and introducing that material of the second member which is softened or melted into the hole through the opening and curing the material of the second member.

A joining method for joining a first member having a hole that is opened on at least one surface, to a second member including a material of which a melting temperature is lower than that of a constituent material of the first member, includes: laminating the second member on the first member so as to cover an opening of the hole; and introducing that material of the second member which is softened or melted into the hole through the opening and curing the material of the second member.

The present disclosure is directed to methods for joining rotor blade components using thermoplastic welding. The method includes arranging a first thermoplastic component and a second thermoplastic component together at an interface, determining a size of a tolerance gap between the first and second components at the interface, placing a thermoplastic insert between the first and second components at the interface, the insert being larger than the tolerance gap, heating the insert and the first and second components such that the insert begins to flow so as to fill the tolerance gap between the first and second components, applying pressure to the interface such that the insert and the first and second blade components remain substantially in direct contact with each other at the interface, and welding the insert and the first and second components together at the interface, wherein the heat and the applied pressure between the insert and the first and second components at the interface maintain the insert and the first and second substantially in direct contact at the interface during welding.

The present disclosure is directed to methods for joining rotor blade components using thermoplastic welding. The method includes arranging a first thermoplastic component and a second thermoplastic component together at an interface, determining a size of a tolerance gap between the first and second components at the interface, placing a thermoplastic insert between the first and second components at the interface, the insert being larger than the tolerance gap, heating the insert and the first and second components such that the insert begins to flow so as to fill the tolerance gap between the first and second components, applying pressure to the interface such that the insert and the first and second blade components remain substantially in direct contact with each other at the interface, and welding the insert and the first and second components together at the interface, wherein the heat and the applied pressure between the insert and the first and second components at the interface maintain the insert and the first and second substantially in direct contact at the interface during welding.