An object of the present invention is to obtain a fiber-reinforced composite material achieving both lightweight properties and mechanical properties at a high level. The present invention is a fiber-reinforced composite material including: a resin (A); and a reinforcing fiber (B), and including: a fiber-reinforced structure portion including an in-plane orientation portion having an average fiber orientation angle of the reinforcing fiber (B) of 0° or more and 45° or less and an out-of-plane orientation portion having an average fiber orientation angle of the reinforcing fiber (B) of more than 45° and 90° or less; and a cavity portion defined by the in-plane orientation portion and the out-of-plane orientation portion of the fiber-reinforced structure portion.

An object of the present invention is to obtain a fiber-reinforced composite material achieving both lightweight properties and mechanical properties at a high level. The present invention is a fiber-reinforced composite material including: a resin (A); and a reinforcing fiber (B), and including: a fiber-reinforced structure portion including an in-plane orientation portion having an average fiber orientation angle of the reinforcing fiber (B) of 0° or more and 45° or less and an out-of-plane orientation portion having an average fiber orientation angle of the reinforcing fiber (B) of more than 45° and 90° or less; and a cavity portion defined by the in-plane orientation portion and the out-of-plane orientation portion of the fiber-reinforced structure portion.

A method of manufacturing a high-pressure composite pressure vessel for high-pressure being at or above 70 bar (1000 PSI or 7 MPa) includes providing an expandable core vessel defining a hoop section between end domes. An aligned discontinuous fiber composite material is wrapped over the expandable core vessel aligning with a plurality of load paths present in the expandable core vessel being over the hoop section and end domes. The aligned discontinuous fiber composite material has fibers in a prepreg tape that are at least 5 mm in length to 100 mm in length or less. Next, a continuous fiber-reinforced composite is wrapped over the aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite along the hoop section and not wrapped along the end domes. The expandable core vessel may be pressurized and heated to consolidate the composite overwrap. Finally, the vessel is cooled under pressure resulting in the high-pressure composite pressure vessel.

A method of manufacturing a high-pressure composite pressure vessel for high-pressure being at or above 70 bar (1000 PSI or 7 MPa) includes providing an expandable core vessel defining a hoop section between end domes. An aligned discontinuous fiber composite material is wrapped over the expandable core vessel aligning with a plurality of load paths present in the expandable core vessel being over the hoop section and end domes. The aligned discontinuous fiber composite material has fibers in a prepreg tape that are at least 5 mm in length to 100 mm in length or less. Next, a continuous fiber-reinforced composite is wrapped over the aligned discontinuous fiber-reinforced composite along the hoop section and not wrapped along the end domes. The expandable core vessel may be pressurized and heated to consolidate the composite overwrap. Finally, the vessel is cooled under pressure resulting in the high-pressure composite pressure vessel.

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a laminate. One method includes laying up a first set of layers comprising tows of unidirectional thermoplastic fiber-reinforced material for the laminate, and laying up a second set of layers comprising tows of braided thermoplastic fiber-reinforced material for the laminate.

Systems and methods are provided for fabricating a laminate. One method includes laying up a first set of layers comprising tows of unidirectional thermoplastic fiber-reinforced material for the laminate, and laying up a second set of layers comprising tows of braided thermoplastic fiber-reinforced material for the laminate.

A fiber-reinforced fabric, composite materials formed from such fabrics, and methods of making the fiber-reinforced fabric or composite materials, are provided. The fabrics and composite materials demonstrate improved fatigue performance relative to conventional fiber-reinforced fabrics.

A fiber-reinforced fabric, composite materials formed from such fabrics, and methods of making the fiber-reinforced fabric or composite materials, are provided. The fabrics and composite materials demonstrate improved fatigue performance relative to conventional fiber-reinforced fabrics.

Methods comprise generating an electric field; encompassing fibers within the electric to orient the fibers in a desired orientation relative to each other; and subsequent to the encompassing, fixing the fibers in the desired orientation within a matrix material to at least partially create a composite part.

Methods comprise generating an electric field; encompassing fibers within the electric to orient the fibers in a desired orientation relative to each other; and subsequent to the encompassing, fixing the fibers in the desired orientation within a matrix material to at least partially create a composite part.