A bonding preparation patch for application to a resin treated surface is provided. The patch includes a strip having first and second portions, each of which has corresponding first and second sides. The strip is formed of resin porous material and is foldable such that the respective first sides of the first and second portions face each other. The patch further includes a resin barrier interposable between corresponding portions of the respective first sides and a tape including at least one adhesive side, which is securable relative to the first portion and disposable in contact with the second side of the second portion.

A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include assembling a first component and a second component together using, at least in part, a first adhesive film on the first component and a second adhesive film on the second component, wherein the first component and the second component are fully cured and the first adhesive film and the second adhesive film are at least partially uncured; and curing the first adhesive film and the second adhesive film to form a bonded structure.

Described herein are methods of forming uncured sealant assemblies and also methods of forming seals between various parts using such assemblies. In some examples, an uncured sealant assembly comprises two protective layers and an uncured sealant layer, disposed in between. The uncured sealant assembly is stored and provided at a cure-inhibiting temperature, selected to minimize the curing rate of the uncured sealant layer. The size and the shape of the uncured sealant layer are specifically selected to ensure the complete coverage of the faying surfaces, filling of all gaps and voids between the faying surfaces, and controlling the shape and size of uncured sealant squeeze out between the faying surfaces. In some examples, the size and shape of the uncured sealant layer maybe be specifically selected to have no uncured sealant squeeze out between parts.

A composite laminate for connection to at least one attachment component in a load-introduction joint, said composite laminate comprising an opening that is adapted to receive a load-introduction component of said load-introduction joint, wherein a prefailure indication element is provided in the region of said opening, said prefailure indication element being modifiable by said load-introduction component in a prefailure mode of said load-introduction joint for indication of an impending function-affecting failure of said composite laminate. The invention is further related to a corresponding load-introduction component.

Systems and methods of constructing a thermoplastic component include joining a thermoplastic skin to a thermoplastic core by introducing heat at an interface of each of the thermoplastic skin and the thermoplastic core to at least partially melt the thermoplastic skin to a thermoplastic core at the interfaces, applying pressure to at least one of the thermoplastic skin and the thermoplastic core to sandwich the elements, and cooling the interfaces below the melting point of each of the thermoplastic skin and the thermoplastic core to consolidate the thermoplastic skin and the thermoplastic core into a unitary thermoplastic component. An optional thermoplastic film may be disposed between the thermoplastic skin and the thermoplastic core. The thermoplastic skin may be joined to the thermoplastic core to form an intermediate thermoplastic component prior to joining the thermoplastic skin to the intermediate component.

A rotor yoke manufactured by a process comprising preparing a molded rotor yoke in a closed cavity tool and possibly machining at least one portion of the molded rotor yoke to form the rotor yoke. In the preferred embodiment, the preparing of the molded rotor yoke is accomplished by applying layers of uncured low-flow composite material and a layer of uncured high-flow adhesive; substantially enclosing the uncured molded rotor yoke in the closed cavity tool; and applying pressure so as to compress the uncured molded rotor yoke; and curing the uncured molded rotor yoke. During the curing process, the high-flow adhesive bleeds out of the molded rotor yoke, thereby preventing marcels from forming through movement of the low-flow composite material.

A protective cap (1) is proposed for an end of an elongate member (6), such as a male connecting end of a pipe or tube. The cap (1) comprises a sheath of flexible, resilient (i.e. elastic) material (2) to cover part of the outer surface of the member (6) at an end of the member. The protective cap (1) can be applied to the end of the member by unfurling at least part of the sheath 3 from a gathered configuration, such as a rolled-up configuration. The protective cap (1) includes resilient ridges (8) extending inwardly from an insert member (2), and/or a chip at least partly within the cap.

A composite laminate for connection to at least one attachment component in a load-introduction joint, said composite laminate comprising an opening that is adapted to receive a load-introduction component of said load-introduction joint, wherein a prefailure indication element is provided in the region of said opening, said prefailure indication element being modifiable by said load-introduction component in a prefailure mode of said load-introduction joint for indication of an impending function-affecting failure of said composite laminate. The invention is further related to a corresponding load-introduction component.

In one embodiment, a method may comprise heating a composite material into a viscous form, wherein the composite material comprises a thermoplastic and a plurality of reinforcement fibers, wherein the plurality of reinforcement fibers is randomly arranged within the thermoplastic. The method may further comprise extruding a plurality of strands of the composite material, wherein extruding the plurality of strands causes the plurality of reinforcement fibers within each strand to align. The method may further comprise arranging the plurality of strands of the composite material to form an assembly fixture, wherein the assembly fixture comprises an anisotropic thermal expansion property, and wherein the anisotropic thermal expansion property is based on an orientation of the plurality of reinforcement fibers within the assembly fixture.

A shrouded rotor assembly for an aircraft. The shrouded rotor assembly comprises a stator hollow structure comprises formed from a plurality of composite angular segments. Each composite angular segment includes: a core arched section of a central hub casing, a peripheral rim section of an external hollow duct and a pair of angularly opposed sliced portions, respectively for one of a pair of guide vanes. The resulting stator hollow structure is a unitary one-piece, integrating together continuously the composite angular segments. The invention typically applies e.g. to aircrafts such as rotary wing aircrafts.