The present invention relates to a fan blade (3) having a structure made from a composite material, comprising a fibrous reinforcement (5), which is obtained by three-dimensional weaving of warp strands and weft strands, and a matrix in which the fibrous reinforcement (5) is embedded, wherein—the fibrous reinforcement (5) comprises a first portion (14) forming the trailing edge (9) of the structure made from a composite material and a second portion (15) forming its leading edge (8), and wherein—the warp strands of the fibrous reinforcement (5) comprise first strands (12) having a predetermined stiffness and second strands (13) having a greater stiffness than that of the first strands (12), the first portion (14) comprising all or part of the first strands (12) and being devoid of second strands (13) while the second portion (15) comprises all or part of the second strands (13).

A fibrous preform for forming the fibrous reinforcement of a composite material part, the fibrous preform being made as a single piece and obtained by three-dimensional weaving, the preform including first and second skins and a longitudinal stiffening portion connecting the first to the second skin, the longitudinal stiffening portion forming a stiffening element of the part in the longitudinal direction. The preform has an intermediate portion extending in the longitudinal direction between two end portions. The longitudinal stiffening portion includes, in the intermediate portion, longitudinal non-woven threads or strands held together by first transverse threads or strands coming from the first skin and second transverse threads or strands coming from the second skin. In the end portions, the longitudinal threads or strands of the longitudinal stiffening portion are woven with the transverse threads or strands.

A fibrous preform for forming the fibrous reinforcement of a composite material part, the fibrous preform being made as a single piece and obtained by three-dimensional weaving, the preform including first and second skins and a longitudinal stiffening portion connecting the first to the second skin, the longitudinal stiffening portion forming a stiffening element of the part in the longitudinal direction. The preform has an intermediate portion extending in the longitudinal direction between two end portions. The longitudinal stiffening portion includes, in the intermediate portion, longitudinal non-woven threads or strands held together by first transverse threads or strands coming from the first skin and second transverse threads or strands coming from the second skin. In the end portions, the longitudinal threads or strands of the longitudinal stiffening portion are woven with the transverse threads or strands.

A method for repairing a part made of composite material includes producing a recessed section by removing the composite material at a damaged area, producing grooves extending on the two faces of the part from edges of the recessed section, producing orifices in the part opening out into the grooves, tree-dimensional weaving of a filling part fiber preforms including a central section having a shape corresponding to the shape of the recessed section and fiber bundles extending from the central section, placing the filling preforms respectively on either face of the part with the fiber bundles in the grooves on the faces of the part and in the orifices such that the fiber bundles open out into the grooves present on the opposite face of the part, impregnating the filling fiber preforms with a precursor resin of a matrix, transforming the resin into a matrix to obtain a filling part.

A method for repairing a part made of composite material includes producing a recessed section by removing the composite material at a damaged area, producing grooves extending on the two faces of the part from edges of the recessed section, producing orifices in the part opening out into the grooves, tree-dimensional weaving of a filling part fiber preforms including a central section having a shape corresponding to the shape of the recessed section and fiber bundles extending from the central section, placing the filling preforms respectively on either face of the part with the fiber bundles in the grooves on the faces of the part and in the orifices such that the fiber bundles open out into the grooves present on the opposite face of the part, impregnating the filling fiber preforms with a precursor resin of a matrix, transforming the resin into a matrix to obtain a filling part.

A composite panel assembly including a first panel with a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an assembly flange. A second panel includes a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an assembly flange. A fastening device is adapted to fasten the assembly flange of the first panel to the assembly flange of the second panel, wherein the core of one of the first panel or the second panel includes reinforcing pins and a high-density portion placed along the assembly flange.

A composite panel assembly including a first panel with a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an assembly flange. A second panel includes a first skin, a second skin, a core, and an assembly flange. A fastening device is adapted to fasten the assembly flange of the first panel to the assembly flange of the second panel, wherein the core of one of the first panel or the second panel includes reinforcing pins and a high-density portion placed along the assembly flange.

Compaction systems and methods of compacting components are provided. In one aspect, a laminate of a component can be laid up on a tool of a compaction system. The laminate defines a cavity. A noodle is positioned relative to or in the cavity. A noodle ring is then positioned relative to the noodle. For instance, the noodle ring can be placed over the noodle. A cross section of the noodle ring can be shaped complementary to a cross section of the noodle. A plunger of the compaction system is moved so that it engages the noodle ring. Particularly, the plunger is moved in such a way that a force is applied on the noodle ring so that the noodle ring compacts the noodle into the cavity.

Methods for fabricating a 3D braided material and exemplary 3D braided material for sporting implements are disclosed. The exemplary braids can be incorporated into any sporting implements, such as, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, rackets, helmets, and other protective equipment. The example sporting implement can be constructed, partially or entirely, with a braided three dimensional structure. The 3D braided material can be a multi-directional layup having tows oriented in three directions (X, Y and Z) and also at any angle created by the combination of two or three directions. A single woven preform can be formed that can have a near net shape of the formed product, with the fibers oriented in a way that will be optimal for the particular application.

A fibrous texture forming the fibrous reinforcement of a turbomachine blade made of composite material which has a three-dimensional weaving between warp yarns or strands made of first fibers and weft yarns or strands made of first fibers, the texture including a blade root portion, a blade airfoil portion and a free end, the texture extending along the transverse direction between a first edge corresponding to a leading edge of the blade and a second edge corresponding to a trailing edge of the blade. The blade airfoil portion has a reinforced area extending along the longitudinal direction from the free end over a first length, and along the transverse direction from the second edge over a second length less, the reinforced area including weft yarns or strands made of second fibers different from the first fibers, the second fibers having an elongation at break greater than the first fibers.