The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade, comprising arranging one or more layers of fibre material and a preform in a mould (66), injecting the one or more layers of fibre material and the preform (76) with a curable resin, and curing the resin. The preform (76) is impregnated with a curing promoter such that the concentration of curing promoter varies spatially within the preform.

Methods and systems are provided for fabricating a composite structure. In one example, the composite structure may include a honeycomb core sandwiched between face sheets. An edge of the honeycomb core may be abraded and a top face sheet may be perforated. As such, a likelihood of delamination of the composite structure during a curing step may be reduced.

Prepregs, cores and composite articles are described that comprise lighter weight materials and/or lower amounts of adhesive than commonly used. In some instances, one or more components of the articles may comprise a repellent material or repellent treatment to reduce the overall absorption rate of adhesive into the components of the article.

A triaxial laid scrim includes a first, second and third set of continuous fibers. The fibers of each set are regularly spaced apart and are parallel to each other. The fibers of the first set are parallel to the warp direction or to the weft direction of the scrim. The fibers of the second set and the third set are oriented symmetrically to each other, respectively at an angle of 30°-80° with respect to the fibers of the first set. Distances between the fibers of the second set and the fibers of the third set are identical. The fibers of the second set cross the fibers of the third set at the intersection thereof with the fibers of the first set, thereby defining regular openings having an isosceles triangle shape. The fibers are coated and attached to each other by a coating that does not fill-up the triangle-shaped openings.

Fibre-reinforced composite materials, which can exhibit good fire-retardant properties in combination with good surface properties and aesthetic properties, as well as good mechanical properties, and in conjunction with good processability, with regard to cost and health and safety considerations.

An additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The additive manufacturing system may include a moveable support, and a print head connected to the moveable support. The print head may be configured to discharge a continuous reinforcement that is wetted with a liquid matrix. The additive manufacturing system may also include an auto-threader configured to thread the continuous reinforcement through the print head, and a controller in communication with the moveable support, the print head, and the auto-threader. The controller may be configured to selectively activate the auto-threader at a start of a manufacturing process.

The present disclosure describes lug clusters for composite tubes and methods for making such lug clusters. Lug clusters of the present disclosure may include a first side, a second side, and a saddle. The saddle may be placed in adjacent contact with a tube and a filament may be wound around the lug cluster and tube. The wound lug cluster and tube may be resin transfer molded. Machining may follow to remove material and finalize the shape of the lug cluster and/or tube. Thus, a lug cluster may be attached to a composite tube.

Methods and apparatus for automating the fiber laying process during the repair of composite structures made of fiber-reinforced plastic material based on the three-dimensional printing technique. Continuous fiber rovings (e.g., carbon fibers) impregnated with liquid epoxy can be directly printed onto the damaged surface of the composite structure (e.g., an aircraft component made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic) without human manipulation in an autonomous manner.

An additive manufacturing system is disclosed. The additive manufacturing system may include a matrix reservoir, a primary nozzle fluidly connected to the matrix reservoir, and a primary cure enhancer operatively connected to at least one of the matrix reservoir and the primary nozzle. The primary cure enhancer may be configured to direct a cure energy toward a tip of the primary nozzle. The additive manufacturing system may also include an auxiliary nozzle, an arm configured to mount the auxiliary nozzle at a trailing side of the primary nozzle, and a passage extending from the matrix reservoir to the auxiliary nozzle.

A continuous reinforcement is disclosed for use in additive manufacturing. The continuous reinforcement may include a plurality of continuous primary fibers oriented in a general axial direction of the continuous reinforcement. The continuous reinforcement may also include a plurality of secondary fibers interspersed with the plurality of continuous primary fibers and oriented generally orthogonal to the plurality of continuous primary fibers.