A method of manufacturing a fibre-reinforced polymer object by means of vacuum-assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM), wherein fibre material is impregnated with liquid resin in a mould cavity comprising a rigid mould part having a mould surface defining an outer surface of the object, is described. One or more pressure sensors are connected to resin inlets of the VARTM system. A control unit is used for controlling a polymer supply unit based on measured resin pressure and is adapted to adjusting a resin flow rate, if pressure measured by the pressure sensors is below a lower threshold level or above a higher threshold level.

An object is to provide a composite material manufacturing method for improving interlayer strength. The present disclosure provides a composite material manufacturing method of laminating a plurality of prepregs (10) formed of a fiber reinforced base material impregnated with an uncured matrix resin and performing hot molding, the method including: using the prepregs (10) each provided with a gap layer (12) that does not contain a resin and is continuous in an in-plane direction and resin layers (11a, 11b) disposed on both surfaces of the gap layer; disposing a plurality of short fibers (13) on facing surfaces of the prepregs (10) that are adjacent to each other; and evacuating the laminated prepregs (10) to degas the gap layer (12) and then performing hot molding.

Methods and systems for consolidating an additively manufactured piece. In one embodiment, methods include the step of combining the additively manufactured piece with another piece, for example with another additively manufactured piece or with a piece that is not additively manufactured (e.g. an insert, foam, etc.), so that during a consolidation step, those pieces are assembled or connected together.

One embodiment of a method according to the present disclosure may use a fixture with one or more boot recesses formed therein. An embedded member may be engaged with a boot and placed in a boot recess. Substrate lay-up may be placed around all or a portion of the embedded member and an outer member may be positioned over the substrate lay-up. A cover may be positioned over the outer member and engaged with the fixture. The pressure within an interior portion of the fixture may be reduced to less than ambient pressure and resin may be introduced to interact with the substrate lay-up and allowed to cure.

A composite material molding method includes a first disposition step for disposing a prepreg on a jig molding surface of a molding jig; a first sealing step for airtightly sealing the prepreg by covering the prepreg with a first resin bag; a second disposition step for disposing a breather so as to cover the first resin bag; a second sealing step for airtightly sealing the breather so as to cover the breather with a second resin bag; a first depressurization step for depressurizing a first space sealed by the first resin bag; a second depressurization step for depressurizing a second space sealed by the second resin bag; and a heat-curing step for heat-curing the prepreg by supplying the internal space of a pressure vessel with a steam with a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure.

Methods of manufacturing composite workpieces that include positioning a heat-generating element proximate to an uncured composite workpiece, triggering the heat-generating element to produce an exothermic chemical reaction or exothermic physical reaction so that the temperature of the uncured composite workpiece is raised to a predetermined first temperature, and curing the composite workpiece while it is at a temperature that is at least the predetermined first temperature.

A method of forming a composite part from a mufti-ply prepreg composite charge comprises reducing pressure inside a bladder, located in a chamber that is at atmospheric pressure, below the atmospheric pressure. The method also comprises placing the multi-ply prepreg composite charge, having a first shape, in the chamber and reducing pressure inside the chamber below the atmospheric pressure. The method additionally comprises, while maintaining pressure inside the chamber below the atmospheric pressure, expanding the bladder within the chamber by increasing pressure inside the bladder to the atmospheric pressure, so that the multi-ply prepreg composite charge is compressed between the bladder and a forming tool, which is located inside the chamber, and the multi-ply prepreg composite charge is configured by the forming tool to a second shape, different from the first shape. The method also comprises curing the multi-ply prepreg composite charge, having the second shape.

A method for molding a laminated body includes laminating a reinforced fiber base material on a molding surface of a molding jig to form a laminated body; attaching a pulling jig to a third lamination portion of the laminated body; forming a protrusive curvature part and a recessed curvature part in the laminated body by curving the laminated body along a protrusive curvature surface and a recessed curvature surface formed on the molding surface while pulling the end of the laminated body with the pulling jig; and densifying the laminated body by heating the curved laminated body while pressurizing the same. The reinforced fiber base material is laminated so that at least a part of a gap between layers of the reinforced fiber base material becomes a non-adhered state in a portion from the protrusive curvature part to the third lamination portion formed in the laminated body.

A method for molding a laminated body includes laminating a reinforced fiber base material on a molding surface of a molding jig to form a laminated body; attaching a pulling jig to a third lamination portion of the laminated body; forming a protrusive curvature part and a recessed curvature part in the laminated body by curving the laminated body along a protrusive curvature surface and a recessed curvature surface formed on the molding surface while pulling the end of the laminated body with the pulling jig; and densifying the laminated body by heating the curved laminated body while pressurizing the same. The reinforced fiber base material is laminated so that at least a part of a gap between layers of the reinforced fiber base material becomes a non-adhered state in a portion from the protrusive curvature part to the third lamination portion formed in the laminated body.

According to one implementation, a composite material structure includes a corrugated stringer and a panel. The corrugated stringer has a corrugated structure including portions each having hat-shaped cross section. The corrugated stringer is made of a composite material. The panel is integrated with the corrugated stringer. The panel is made of a composite material. Further, according to one implementation, a manufacturing method of a composite material structure includes: setting a textile on a laminated body of prepregs; and producing the composite material structure by covering the laminated body with a bagging film, forming a vacuum state in a space covered with the bagging film, impregnating the textile with the resin, and thermal curing of the laminated body of the prepregs. The laminated body is a panel before curing. The textile has a structure corresponding to a corrugated stringer.