A method for manufacturing a rivet connection of a fiber composite component. The method includes positioning a first component which contains a fiber composite material in an overlap joint with a second component, laser-drilling a shared through-hole at least through the fiber composite material of the first component, inserting a rivet into the through-hole and fixing the rivet to the first and to the second component.

A method for making a first ply for laying up a fibrous preform on a tool. An attachment zone is made on the laying up surface of the tool. The zone is integral with the laying up surface of the tool. A polymer is deposited by additive manufacturing on the surface of the tool. The polymer deposit passes on the attachment zone. The first ply is laid up by activating the tackiness of the polymer deposited using additive manufacturing, so as to make the deposited fibers adhere to the material deposited by additive manufacturing.

A system for forming material includes a housing including at least one wall defining an interior space. The housing is configured to contain a pressurized fluid in the interior space. The system also includes at least one tool configured to shape the material. The at least one tool is movable along a path from a first position external to the housing to a second position at least partially within the interior space. The system further includes a membrane extending at least partially in the path of the at least one tool.

A flat metallic structure having a multiplicity of openings and having a width between 6 and 1000 mm. The metallic structure is treated with a metallic impregnating material whose melting point is lower than that of the flat metallic structure, and wherein the conductivity of the metal before the impregnation is at least 15 S/m. A use of such a structure as lightning protection for fiber composite components, as well as fiber composite components having such a structure, and a method for the production of such fiber composite components.

In a method for producing a rail-shaped hybrid component, in particular for an aircraft or spacecraft, a second rail component made of a titanium material is positioned on a first bar of a first profile rail that is made of a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic material and moved in an advancing direction, in a fixed position relative to the first profile rail, such that a bar portion of the first bar is arranged between a first connecting portion of the second rail component and a second connecting portion of the second rail component, and the second rail component is cohesively connected to the first profile rail. Furthermore, the hybrid component has a first profile rail made of a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic material and a second rail component made of a titanium material.

A leading edge slat of a wing element of an aircraft. The aircraft defining a mark including a main fuselage axis x and a spanwise axis y. The wing procuring a lift along an axis z. The wing element having a skin forming the leading edge slat, a spar linked to the skin and a stiffening structure linked on the leading edge side to the spar and to the skin. The stiffening structure being formed from a formed sheet metal having a plurality of bosses distributed according to the length of the leading edge. The bosses extending between the spar and the inner face of the skin.

Forming systems and methods for drape forming a composite charge are disclosed herein. The forming systems include a forming die having a forming surface and a collapsible support having a support surface. The collapsible support is configured to transition from an extended conformation to a collapsed conformation and is configured such that a gap width of a gap between the support surface and the forming surface decreases during the transition. The methods include positioning a composite charge, transitioning the collapsible support from an extended conformation to a collapsed conformation, decreasing the gap width of the gap as the collapsible support transitions from the extended conformation to the collapsed conformation, and deforming the composite charge from an initial conformation to a final conformation.

Provided are methods for heat curing of various materials, such as heat curable materials or more specifically potting compounds, which are disposed within cavities with limited access to these materials. Also provided are curing for executing such methods. In some embodiments, a heat curable material disposed within a cavity may be heated by a heating rod protruding into the cavity or through the cavity. The heating rod is thermally coupled to the heat curable material and is used to transfer heat to the heat curable material. For example, the heating rod may include a resistive heating element. The heating element may be positioned in such a way that the heat curable material is selectively heated within the cavity without significant heating of surrounding components. In some embodiments, the heating rod may be also used to compress the part containing the cavity or a stack including this part.

Provided are methods for heat curing of various materials, such as heat curable materials or more specifically potting compounds, which are disposed within cavities with limited access to these materials. Also provided are curing for executing such methods. In some embodiments, a heat curable material disposed within a cavity may be heated by a heating rod protruding into the cavity or through the cavity. The heating rod is thermally coupled to the heat curable material and is used to transfer heat to the heat curable material. For example, the heating rod may include a resistive heating element. The heating element may be positioned in such a way that the heat curable material is selectively heated within the cavity without significant heating of surrounding components. In some embodiments, the heating rod may be also used to compress the part containing the cavity or a stack including this part.

A method for making a conductive pre-impregnated composite sheet includes the steps of joining a nanomaterial composite sheet, a fiber-reinforcing sheet and a resin system to form a combined sheet, heating the combined sheet, compacting the combined sheet, and cooling the combined sheet to form conductive pre-impregnated composite sheet including the fiber-reinforcing sheet, and the nanomaterial composite sheet coupled to the fiber-reinforcing sheet, wherein the fiber-reinforcing sheet and the nanomaterial composite sheet are embedded in the resin system.