An actuatable flow media for controlling a flow rate of a liquid through the flow media, the actuatable flow media comprising a base having a plurality of base cavities formed therein, at least one aperture formed in each base 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 each base 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.

According to one implementation, a preform shaping apparatus includes at least one mold and at least one pin. The at least one mold is a mold for placing and shaping a laminated body of fiber sheets which is a material of a fiber reinforced plastic. The at least one pin prevents the fiber sheets from being misaligned by stinging the laminated body of the fiber sheets with the at least one pin. Further, according to one implementation, a preform shaping method for producing a preform includes: placing a laminated body of fiber sheets, which is a material of a fiber reinforced plastic, on at least one mold; shaping the laminated body of the fiber sheets; and preventing the fiber sheets from being misaligned by stinging the laminated body of the fiber sheets with at least one pin.

In a method for producing a fiber composite component by vacuum injection, a fiber composite semifinished product is arranged in a component chamber of a tool. A vacuum chamber is arranged adjacent to the component chamber. The vacuum chamber is separated from the component chamber by a separation material. Component chamber and vacuum chamber are sealed relative to the tool environment by a gas-tight and matrix-material tight cover material. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber and a matrix material is introduced into the component chamber. The matrix material is cured and the finished fiber composite component is removed from the component chamber. The separation material separating the vacuum chamber from the component chamber has a pore size between 0.4 m and 30 m and provides a matrix material-slowing action but is not matrix material-tight.

Method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade comprising an aerodynamic shell forming an outer surface of the blade and at least one main laminate, the method comprising; providing a mould 13, forming a main laminate 18 in the mould by providing a fibre lay-up comprising a plurality of fibre plies placed on top of each other in the mould 13, dividing the fibre lay-up into at least two segments as seen in the longitudinal direction of the mould by at least one transverse flow barrier 54,55 in the lay-up preventing longitudinal resin flow through the fibre lay-up past the flow barrier 54,55.

Systems and methods for fabricating composite parts. One embodiment is a method that includes selecting a caul plate having a body and a trough disposed at a side of the body which defines a channel that hangs beneath the body, the caul plate further having an opening disposed between the trough and the lower surface to form a fluid pathway for resin within the channel to exit into a preform. The method also includes placing the caul plate atop a preform of dry fiber and aligning the channel with a periphery of the preform, placing resin into the trough, and impregnating the preform with resin from the trough.

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 infusing a composite preform includes locating the preform on an upper tool surface having a resin reservoir element on a downstream side of the composite preform. A vacuum bagging film is placed over the tool surface to cover the composite preform and the resin reservoir element, and is sealed relative to the tool surface to define a sealed resin infusion chamber. A resin supply is provided along with a resin flow path from the resin supply to the resin infusion chamber on an upstream side of the composite preform, through the composite preform and through the reservoir inlet to the resin reservoir. At least partial vacuum pressure applied to the reservoir outlet establishes a pressure differential between the resin supply and reservoir outlet to drive resin from the resin supply through the resin flow path, infusing the composite preform with resin and collecting excess resin in the resin reservoir.

A method of producing an FRP molded article, the method being suitable for producing a thick FRP molded article, includes: placing a reinforced fiber base material in a cavity of a forming mold, such that a direction in which fiber sheets are laminated together (a sheet lamination direction) is a horizontal direction; impregnating a resin into the reinforced fiber base material by injecting the resin into the cavity in an anti-gravitational direction from an injection port provided below the reinforced fiber base material placed in the cavity; applying pressure in the sheet lamination direction to the reinforced fiber base material impregnated with the resin; and curing the resin impregnated in the reinforced fiber 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.

The invention relates to a device for the infiltration of fibrous material with resin for the production of a fiber composite component, comprising a mold tool with a cavity enclosed by at least two tool parts, wherein the mold tool is designed for a relative movement of the at least two tool parts, in such a manner that space can be provided inside the cavity, in a first tool position, to hold the fibrous material, and additional space can be provided to accommodate resin, and the size of the cavity can then be reduced by a movement of the mold tool from the first tool position into a second tool position. According to the invention, a flow promoter is included in the cavity, comprising at least one first layer and one second layer, connected to each other in an edge region of the flow promoter to enclose a flow space, wherein the first layer is impermeable to resin while the second layer provides an outlet for guiding resin out of the flow space and into the fibrous material, and wherein the flow space of the flow promoter is filled with resin and/or the flow promoter has an inlet for conveying resin into the flow space. The invention further relates to a corresponding infiltration process and to a use of the device and/or the method.