A method and device of positioning a ply of material for a composite component along an arcuate surface are presented. The ply comprises two end portions and a plurality of fiber tows extending longitudinally between the two end portions. The arcuate surface has a curved edge and a planar surface extending from the curved edge. The method comprises placing a first longitudinal edge portion of the ply along the curved edge; and rotating at least one of the two end portions away from the arcuate surface about a pivot axis normal to the ply, so as to cause sliding of at least some of the plurality of fiber tows relative to each other, and substantial aligning of the plurality of fiber tows in a curved direction along the arcuate surface. A method of positioning a ply of material for a composite component onto a curved mandrel is also presented.

A hybrid composite comprising a thermoplastic or thermoset matrix in which brittle and ductile fibers are present, wherein the fibers are configured such that the ductile fibers of the hybrid composite dissipate energy at a impact or overload by plastic deformation of the ductile fibers and show residual properties after impact or overload.

A reinforced substrate is provided for use in molding a composite material. The reinforced substrate has a reinforcing layer having reinforcing fibers extending in a fiber direction that is aligned in a single direction and auxiliary fibers laminated on only one surface of the reinforcing layer so as to extend in only one direction that intersects with the fiber direction. The auxiliary fibers are joined to the reinforcing fibers to hold the reinforcing layer. The auxiliary fibers have a higher tensile elongation at break than do the reinforcing fibers. The reinforcing layer is arranged with fiber bundles of large tows being aligned in an unopened state. The large tows have a higher fiber count of the reinforcing fibers than does a regular tow.

A stitched article includes a substrate and a first strand portion formed from a bundle of fibers. The substrate has a first region and a second region. The first strand portion is attached to the substrate in the first region and in the second region via a series of stitches formed with a thread and forms a first layer on the substrate. The article has a first concentration of the stitches in the first region along a first length of the strand portion and a second concentration of the stitches different than the first concentration in the second region along a second length of the first strand portion.

Provided is a method for fabrication of a profile for a spar cap for a wind turbine blade, wherein the profile is fabricated in a pultruding process using one or more strands and/or layers of unidirectional fibres or rovings of unidirectional fibres arranged along a longitudinal direction of the profile and a tool for moulding of the fibres, wherein one or more additional fibres or rovings of additional fibres are introduced in the pultruding process prior to the moulding, wherein the additional fibres are arranged under an angle to the unidirectional fibres, and/or wherein one or more surficial fibres or rovings of surficial fibres are introduced in the pultruding process after the moulding, wherein the surficial fibres are arranged on the outer surface of the moulded profile.

Stiffened composite skin and methods of manufacture. A dry, hat-shaped preform is applied into a recess in a lower mold tool. A first set of dry, skin-preform layers is applied over the dry, hat-shaped preform to form a dry preform assembly. Resin is infused into the dry preform assembly to form a resin-infused preform. The resin-infused preform is cured in situ to form the stiffened composite skin.

Systems and methods for reinforcing structures with composite reinforcement systems are disclosed herein. According to aspects of the present disclosure, a carrier of a composite reinforcement system for repairing and/or reinforcing a physical structure is disclosed. The carrier includes a plurality of carbon fibers. Each carbon fiber has a longitudinal axis and a length extending in a generally 0 degree direction. The carrier further includes at least one fiberglass fiber having a longitudinal axis and a length extending in a generally 90 degree direction across the plurality of carbon fibers. The plurality of carbon fibers constitute at least about 70 wt % of the carrier and the at least one fiberglass fiber constitutes at most about 30 wt % of the carrier.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stitched fiber-reinforced substrate material capable of suppressing the formation of microcracks in a fiber reinforced composite material. The stitched fiber-reinforced substrate material of the present invention is a stitched fiber-reinforced substrate material formed by stitching reinforcement fiber sheets made of reinforcement fibers using stitching yarns, to which an organic compound having a polar group is adhered. The organic compound having a polar group is preferably a compound having a polyoxyalkylene structure, and also preferably a compound having an epoxy group. The organic compound having a polar group is preferably adhered in an amount of 0.1 to 10 wt % with respect to the mass of the stitching yarn.

A battery tray is provided and includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first set of walls, where the first set of walls includes a first stitched fabric, and where the first stitched fabric includes first metal coated fibers. The second component includes a second set of walls, where: the second set of walls includes a second stitched fabric; the second stitched fabric includes second metal coated fibers; and the second component is attached to the first component to form the battery tray, which is configured to hold a battery pack of a vehicle. The first metal coated fibers and the second metal coated fibers provide an electromagnetic shield surrounding the battery pack.

Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a thermoplastic structure include laying a first plurality of braided plies on a mandrel, and laying one or more unidirectional plies on the plurality of braided plies. A second plurality of braided plies is laid on the one or more unidirectional plies. The layup thereby forms a thermoplastic structure having combined braided and unidirectional plies.