An RTM molding device and an RTM molding method which enable resin impregnation of even large members and thick members without causing non-impregnated regions or fiber wrinkle, and yield a molded body having superior toughness and excellent precision. In the RTM molding device, a surface molding layer, which is disposed between a fiber-reinforced base material and a molding die, has a plurality of through-holes formed therein, and has sufficient rigidity that the thickness does not substantially change under the pressure inside the cavity when the inside of the cavity is placed under reduced pressure, and a resin diffusion portion, which is located on the side of the surface molding layer opposite the fiber-reinforced base material, and comprises a resin flow path formed so as to connect with the plurality of through-holes of the surface molding layer, are provided on at least one surface of the fiber-reinforced base material.

A resin supply material is used for molding a fiber-reinforced resin and includes a continuous porous material and a resin. The continuous porous material has a bending resistance Grt of 10 mN.Math.cm or more at 23 C., and a bending resistance ratio Gr of 0.7 or less, the bending resistance ratio Gr being expressed by the formula:

Gr=Gmt/Grt Gmt: bending resistance of continuous porous material at 70 C.

An actuatable flow media for the control of a flow rate of a liquid through the flow media, the actuatable flow media comprising a base having at least one cavity formed therein, at least one aperture formed in the cavity defining a liquid flow path for the entry of liquid into or exit of liquid from the flow media; a flexible membrane arranged in spaced relation with the base and defining a liquid flow path through the flow media; and an elastically deformable element arranged in the cavity and extending between the base and the flexible membrane for actuation between at least a first configuration in which the element is substantially undeformed and the liquid flow path through the at least one aperture is open and a second configuration in which the element is substantially deformed and the liquid flow path through the at least one aperture is closed.

Resin permeation of a dry preform having one or more reinforcement plies is locally influenced during resin infusion using a selectively permeable veil applied to at least one of the reinforcement plies.

A method for manufacturing a fibre reinforced composite by means of a vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding, comprising the steps of placing a fibre material in a mould, placing a flow distribution medium onto the fibre material, and covering the fibre material (1) and the flow distribution medium with a vacuum foil for forming a closed mould cavity between the mould and the vacuum foil is described. It is characterised in using a flow distribution medium with a thickness depending on a pressure gradient over the vacuum foil.

A resin supply material used for press molding or vacuum-pressure molding of a fiber-reinforced resin includes a reinforcing fiber base material and a thermosetting resin, wherein a tensile rupture strain of the reinforcing fiber base material is 1% or more at temperature T, and/or a tensile strength of the reinforcing fiber base material is 0.5 MPa or more at the temperature T, wherein Temperature T is a temperature at which the viscosity of the thermosetting resin is minimum in heating of the thermosetting resin at a temperature elevation rate of 1.5 C./minute from 40 C.

A fiber-reinforced composite material for increasing adhesive strength between a first composite material layer including a fibrous substrate with reinforcement fiber bundles arranged crosswise, and a second composite material layer including second reinforcement fibers arranged randomly. The first composite material layer including a fibrous substrate having reinforcement fiber bundles crossing and being drawn and aligned first reinforcement fibers; and first thermoplastic resin, with at least each of the reinforcement fiber bundles is impregnated; and a second composite material layer including second reinforcement fibers arranged randomly in second thermoplastic resin. The first composite material layer and the second composite material layer bonded to each other. The first composite material layer has bores on at least a surface thereof that is to be bonded with the second composite material layer. The second reinforcement fibers and the second thermoplastic resin enter into the bores.

The present invention relates to a method for the production of a fiber composite part, with a fibrous blank (6) being inserted into a mold (1) and the mold (1) being closed, and a matrix being injected into the closed mold (1), which is characterized in that at least sectionally an intermediate fibrous layer (15) is arranged locally fixed between the outer shell surface (7) of the fibrous material blank (6) and the inner shell surface (5) of the mold (1), so that the flow rate of the resin is reduced due to the randomly arranged fibers (15).

The present invention concerns a reinforcing material comprising at least one fibrous reinforcement associated on at least one of its faces with a thermoplastic porous layer, said thermoplastic porous layer(s) representing at most 10% of the total mass of the reinforcing material, preferably from 0.5 to 10% of the total mass of the reinforcing material, and more preferably from 2 to 6% of the total mass of the reinforcing material, characterized in that said thermoplastic porous layer or each of said thermoplastic porous layers present comprises a so-called reactive thermoplastic polymer or consists of one or more reactive thermoplastic polymers, a reactive thermoplastic polymer carrying NH2 functions in an amount greater than 0.15 meq/g of reactive thermoplastic polymer and/or carrying COOH functions in an amount greater than 0.20 meq/g of reactive thermoplastic polymer.

The invention also concerns processes for manufacturing such reinforcement materials, preforms, processes for manufacturing composite parts and composite parts using such reinforcement materials.

An aircraft panel assembly with a panel and a plurality of stiffeners on the panel is disclosed. Each stiffener has an attachment part attached to the panel and a structural part spaced apart from the panel. A rib foot beam crosses the stiffeners at a series of intersections. At each intersection the rib foot beam is located between the panel and the structural part of a respective one of the stiffeners.