A method for producing a composite material. The method includes the steps of producing an initial dry preform, formed from unidirectional continuous dry fibers, applying non-woven filaments to a first main face of the dry preform, and needling the filaments with a needling device. The needling device includes a plurality of needles, each provided with at least one notch, so that filaments are driven by the needles and arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the continuous fibers of the dry perform. The method includes the further step of impregnating the dry preform with an impregnation polymer, the impregnation polymer constituting the matrix of the composite material part.

A method of fabricating a gas turbine casing out of composite material of varying thickness, the method including making a strip-shaped fiber texture by three-dimensional weaving; winding the fiber texture as a plurality of superposed layers onto a mandrel of profile corresponding to the profile of the casing that is to be fabricated, so as to obtain a fiber preform of shape corresponding to the shape of the casing that is to be fabricated; and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix; wherein, before beginning to wind the fiber texture onto the mandrel, a reinforcing band of width smaller than the width of the fiber texture is placed on the mandrel in a zone that is to form a retention zone of the casing.

A method of fabricating a gas turbine casing out of composite material of varying thickness, the method including making a strip-shaped fiber texture by three-dimensional weaving; winding the fiber texture as a plurality of superposed layers onto a mandrel of profile corresponding to the profile of the casing that is to be fabricated, so as to obtain a fiber preform of shape corresponding to the shape of the casing that is to be fabricated; and densifying the fiber preform with a matrix; wherein, before beginning to wind the fiber texture onto the mandrel, a reinforcing band of width smaller than the width of the fiber texture is placed on the mandrel in a zone that is to form a retention zone of the casing.

A composite platform for an aircraft turbine engine fan includes a wall of elongate shape that is configured to extend between two fan blades. The wall has an aerodynamic external face and an internal face on which is disposed a fixing tab configured to be fixed to a fan disc. A method for manufacturing the composite platform includes the steps of: a) producing a preform by three-dimensionally weaving of fibers, b) unbinding some of the fibers of the preform to detach at least one longitudinal layer of fibers from the rest of the preform, c) inserting a metal reinforcement between this layer and the rest of the preform, and d) injecting a resin into the preform so as to form said wall and secure the reinforcement to this wall.

A composite platform for an aircraft turbine engine fan includes a wall of elongate shape that is configured to extend between two fan blades. The wall has an aerodynamic external face and an internal face on which is disposed a fixing tab configured to be fixed to a fan disc. A method for manufacturing the composite platform includes the steps of: a) producing a preform by three-dimensionally weaving of fibers, b) unbinding some of the fibers of the preform to detach at least one longitudinal layer of fibers from the rest of the preform, c) inserting a metal reinforcement between this layer and the rest of the preform, and d) injecting a resin into the preform so as to form said wall and secure the reinforcement to this wall.

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.

A process for manufacturing a blade made of composite material for a turbomachine. The blade includes an airfoil having a pressure side and a suction side which extend from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the airfoil. The blade further includes a metal sheath that extends along the leading edge of the airfoil. The process includes the steps of: placing a preform, produced by three-dimensionally weaving fibers, in a mold, the sheath being positioned on an edge of the preform intended to form the leading edge of the airfoil; and injecting polymerizable resin into the mold to impregnate the preform so as to form the airfoil after solidifying. At least one double-sided adhesive film may be inserted between the sheath and the edge of the preform prior to injection of the resin.

A printed sheet fiber entanglement apparatus entangles fibers from neighboring printed fibrous layers (e.g., sheets) with one another. As a stack of printed fibrous sheets is built up, periodically a holey plate is loaded against the top sheet of the stack. The guide plate may move the sheet down over the registration pins, and then an array of felting needles are thrust into the stack. An array of needles with upward and/or downward facing barbs is thrust thought holes in the guide plate into the stack through printed sheets closest to the guide plate. As the needles pushed into or are withdrawn from the stack, barbs on the felting needles intertwine fibers from the fibrous sheets through printed marking material and with neighboring sheets. The needle array may translate slightly between multiple thrusts so that a subsequent needling thrust may occur in a slightly new location.

A vane for a turbine engine includes a body in the form of an aerodynamic profile formed by a shell produced from a composite material formed from a three-dimensional textile of reinforcement fibres consolidated by a hardened resin. The shell forms a pressure surface and a suction surface of the vane connected to each other while forming on one side a leading edge and on the opposite side a trailing edge of the vane, and a core including a core body surrounded by the shell. The core is produced from non-porous plastics material, and the core body is in the form of an aerodynamic profile and delimits at least one closed cavity of the core.

A vane for a turbine engine includes a body in the form of an aerodynamic profile formed by a shell produced from a composite material formed from a three-dimensional textile of reinforcement fibres consolidated by a hardened resin. The shell forms a pressure surface and a suction surface of the vane connected to each other while forming on one side a leading edge and on the opposite side a trailing edge of the vane, and a core including a core body surrounded by the shell. The core is produced from non-porous plastics material, and the core body is in the form of an aerodynamic profile and delimits at least one closed cavity of the core.