The invention relates to a composite blade (5) for a turbine engine rotor, for example, an unducted propeller, comprising a skin (6) made of woven fibres forming the outer profile of the blade and an attachment (11) with cylindrical geometry in the direction of the span emerging from the blade root (9), which attachment is intended to retain the blade (5) on a hub of the rotor, characterised in that it further comprises a spar (16) having a hollow tube structure made of braided carbon fibres, fixed to the attachment (11) and extending inside the skin (6) over at least part of the span of the blade (5). The invention also relates to a propeller comprising said blade and to a method for manufacturing said blade.

An airfoil member having a root end, a tip end, a leading edge, and a trailing edge, the airfoil member including an upper skin; a lower skin; and a support network having a plurality of interconnected support members in a lattice arrangement and/or a reticulated arrangement, the support network being configured to provide tailored characteristics of the airfoil member. Also provided are methods and systems for repairing an airfoil member.

The present embodiment relates to a composite fibre structure (100) and a method (200) of manufacturing the composite fibre structure (200). The composite fibre structure (100) includes a core (102) and an outer layer (108) enclosing the core (102). The core (102) further includes at least one of a permanent core (104) and a temporary core (106). The permanent core (104) is 3-D printed along with the temporary core (106) to form the core structure (102). The permanent core (104) and the temporary core (106) are placed alternatively along the section, extending throughout the length of the composite fibre structure (100), or the permanent core (104) and temporary core (102) can be alternate along the length of the composite fibre structure (100). The layer (108), made of a reinforcement material, wraps the core (102) to form the composite fibre structure (100).

According to an aspect, a method of assembling a mandrel includes assembling a plurality of members via interlocking features arranged at opposing edges of each member of the plurality of members to form a compartment, the assembled members having a collective outer surface that conforms to an inner surface of the spar. A support member is inserted into the compartment formed radially inward from the assembled members, the support member making contact with a portion of each member of the plurality of members.

An erosion strip to protect a leading edge surface is provided including an outer layer comprising a wear-resistant material. An elastomer is affixed to an interior surface of the outer layer. An adhesive layer is shaped to adhere the leading edge surface to the elastomer such that the elastomer and adhesive layers are between the outer layer and the leading edge surface. The elastomer is configured to at least partially isolate strain at the outer layer from strain at the adhesive layer and the leading edge surface.

Pre-impregnated composite material (prepreg) that can be cured/molded to form aerospace composite parts. The prepreg includes carbon reinforcing fibers and an uncured resin matrix. The resin matrix includes an epoxy component that is a combination of a hydrocarbon epoxy novolac resin and a trifunctional epoxy resin and a tetrafunctional epoxy resin. The resin matrix includes polyethersulfone as a toughening agent and a thermoplastic particle component that includes a mixture of polyamide particles and polyimide particles.

A propeller blade assembly includes a spar extending along a propeller blade axis and an outer sleeve surrounding the spar portion at a root end of the rotor blade assembly. The spar is adhesively bonded to the outer sleeve at an interface portion. A spar maximum diameter along the interface portion is larger than an outer sleeve minimum diameter along the interface portion. A method of assembling a propeller blade includes installing an outer sleeve over a spar at a root end of the spar, the spar a not fully cured composite component, and urging the spar into compressive conformance with the outer sleeve at an interface portion of the propeller blade assembly. A spar maximum diameter along the interface portion is larger than an outer sleeve minimum diameter along the interface portion. The spar is cured thereby adhesively bonding the spar to the outer sleeve at the interface portion.

A method for joining structural elements to a component made of at least one fiber-reinforced plastics material, includes providing at least two structural elements made of at least one fiber-reinforced plastics material having a particular matrix; providing at least one film element made of a thermoplastic heavy-duty material; arranging the at least one film element on a surface of one of the structural elements or between surfaces to be joined of the at least two structural elements to be joined; and producing the component to be joined in a curing process.

An aerofoil component is formed of continuous fibre-reinforced polymer composite created by curing laid up pre-preg layers extending in radial and chordal directions of the aerofoil component, and further includes a plurality of Z-pins arranged in a pattern forming a chevron on the pressure and/or suction surface of the aerofoil component, the chevron having a vertex and two arms extending at an angle from each other away from the vertex either towards the radially inner root of the aerofoil component or towards the radially outer tip of the aerofoil component.

Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for two or more cured composite assemblies that are bonded together to form a tubular composite structure, wherein each of the cured composite assemblies do not have a tubular shape. The tubular composite structure may form a spar for an aerodynamic component, for example. The two or more cured composite assemblies may comprise carbon or fiberglass composite materials or a combination of materials. Each of the cured composite assemblies may further comprise axial edges that are configured to be bonded to another of the cured composite assemblies, wherein the axial edges have a sloped shape. An adhesive agent may be applied on the axial edges for bonding two cured composite assemblies. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more fasteners may be used to attach the axial edges of at least two cured composite assemblies.