A composite structure is fabricated by staging at least a portion of an uncured, first composite component. The first composite component is assembled with a second composite component, and the staged portion of the first composite component is cocured with the second composite component.

A bird deterrent has a base and at least one branched spike extending from the base. The branching can occur anywhere along the spike, and a single branch point can give rise to multiple branches. Spikes can have multiple branches. The various branches can be of any suitable length(s), and can be oriented in any suitable direction(s).

A method of forming a flat composite charge into a contoured composite part reduces wrinkles in the part as the charge is being formed. Dies are used to form a portion of charge to the steepest contour of the part, while tension is maintained on the charge as the remaining portions of the charge are formed.

A method for molding a composite material includes arranging a laminate of fiber sheets on a molding die with a part of the laminate facing a recess of the molding die; covering the laminate with a covering member to hermetically seal a space between the covering member and the molding die; sucking atmosphere in the space between the covering member and the molding die to draw in the part of the laminate into the recess and to shape the laminate; and molding the composite material including the product portion and the excess portion by curing the laminate after shaping.