A method for forming a laminate by stacking sheet materials containing reinforcing fibers includes a fixation step wherein a first region of the laminate in the length direction is fixed to a forming mold having a curved part which comprises at least either a convex shape or a concave shape in a predetermined direction; forming steps wherein the laminate is formed along the surface shape of the forming mold by pressing a second region of the laminate in the length direction, the first region of said laminate having been fixed in the fixation step, against the forming mold by means of a forming jig; and an installation step wherein a holding jig, which holds a state where the laminate is pressed against the curved part, is installed onto the curved part, while maintaining the state where the laminate is pressed against the forming mold by means of the forming jig.

Disclosed a wind turbine blade comprising a main laminate and a method for manufacturing a main laminate for a wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blade extends in a longitudinal direction from a root to a tip and comprising a pressure side, a suction side and a chord line extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Particularly, lightning protection of such main laminate is disclosed.

Disclosed a wind turbine blade comprising a main laminate and a method for manufacturing a main laminate for a wind turbine blade. The wind turbine blade extends in a longitudinal direction from a root to a tip and comprising a pressure side, a suction side and a chord line extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Particularly, lightning protection of such main laminate is disclosed.

A filament is fed to an extrusion head. The filament has a semi-crystalline polymeric reinforcement portion and a polymeric matrix portion. The reinforcement and matrix portions run continuously along a length of the filament. The reinforcement portion has a higher melting point and a higher crystallinity than the matrix portion. The temperature of the filament is raised in the extrusion head above the melting point of the matrix portion but below the melting point of the reinforcement portion so that the matrix portion of the filament melts within the extrusion head, thereby forming a partially molten filament within the extrusion head. The partially molten filament is extruded from the extrusion head onto a substrate, the reinforcement portion of the partially molten filament remaining in a semi-crystalline state as it is extruded from the extrusion head. Relative movement is generated between the extrusion head and the substrate as the partially molten filament is extruded onto the substrate in order to form an extruded line on the substrate. The matrix portion of the extruded line solidifies after the extruded line has been formed on the substrate.

A filament is fed to an extrusion head. The filament has a semi-crystalline polymeric reinforcement portion and a polymeric matrix portion. The reinforcement and matrix portions run continuously along a length of the filament. The reinforcement portion has a higher melting point and a higher crystallinity than the matrix portion. The temperature of the filament is raised in the extrusion head above the melting point of the matrix portion but below the melting point of the reinforcement portion so that the matrix portion of the filament melts within the extrusion head, thereby forming a partially molten filament within the extrusion head. The partially molten filament is extruded from the extrusion head onto a substrate, the reinforcement portion of the partially molten filament remaining in a semi-crystalline state as it is extruded from the extrusion head. Relative movement is generated between the extrusion head and the substrate as the partially molten filament is extruded onto the substrate in order to form an extruded line on the substrate. The matrix portion of the extruded line solidifies after the extruded line has been formed on the substrate.

In exemplary implementations of this invention, an actuated fabricator deposits structural elements (e.g., tensile structural elements) in a 3D pattern over large displacements. The fabricator is supported by at least three elongated support members. It includes onboard actuators that translate the fabricator relative to the ends of the support members. The fabricator is configured, by actuating different translations along different support members, to translate itself throughout a 3D volume. In some implementations, each of the actuators use fusible material to fuse metal tapes together, edge-to-edge, to form a hollow structure that can be shortened or lengthened.

In exemplary implementations of this invention, an actuated fabricator deposits structural elements (e.g., tensile structural elements) in a 3D pattern over large displacements. The fabricator is supported by at least three elongated support members. It includes onboard actuators that translate the fabricator relative to the ends of the support members. The fabricator is configured, by actuating different translations along different support members, to translate itself throughout a 3D volume. In some implementations, each of the actuators use fusible material to fuse metal tapes together, edge-to-edge, to form a hollow structure that can be shortened or lengthened.

Very good impregnation quality is achieved by a process for production of a fiber-composite material, with introducing a fiber layer by a spreader device and thus spreading to a width greater than that of the final product, at least by a factor of 1.2, where the extent of spreading of the fiber layer is such that its average thickness is 1 to 50 times the filament diameter; applying a melt by at least one applicator nozzle to the spread material; by virtue of cross-section-narrowing, the mould brings the width of the wetted fiber layer at least to the cross section with which the product leaves the take-off die; a radius then deflects the wetted fibers by an angle of 5 to 60°; a relaxation zone renders the fiber distribution more uniform to give a uniform height; achieving the first shaping by a take-off die at the end of the mould.

An example method of forming a composite structure is described that includes applying a laminated charge onto an expandable pallet, moving the expandable pallet at a translation rate and relative to a die conveyor that comprises a plurality of die sections, and driving the plurality of die sections on the die conveyor at an angle relative to the expandable pallet so as to drive the plurality of die sections progressively deeper into a recess defined by the expandable pallet and shape the laminated charge into at least part of a shape of the composite structure.

A method for producing a composite material in which a first fabric and a second fabric made from a fiber material are impregnated with a thermosetting resin and integrally molded, wherein a resin flow path through which thermosetting resin flows is provided between the first fabric and the second fabric, and the first fabric and the second fabric are impregnated with thermosetting resin from the resin flow path as well as being impregnated with thermosetting resin from the surface.