This invention relates to a wind turbine blade component, a method of manufacturing such a wind turbine blade component and a wind turbine blade comprising the wind turbine blade component. The wind turbine blade component comprising a stack of layers arranged in a first group and in a second group, wherein the layers of each group has the same width. The layers of each group is continuously offset in an edgewise direction to form a tapered edge profile. The first group of layers may be arranged relative to the second group, or in an alternating order. The layers of the first group may further have a first length which is greater than a second length of the layers of the second group.

A stiffening element comprises a tension and compression member, a shear member, an attachment member, and a plurality of beads. The tension and compression member is positioned spaced apart from the skin and configured to bear tension or compression forces that stiffen the skin and prevent the skin from buckling or bending. The shear member is connected to the tension and compression member and configured to bear shear forces between the skin and the tension and compression member. The attachment member is connected to the shear member and is configured to connect to the skin. The beads each create out-of-plane feature that is positioned in at least one of the shear member and the attachment member. The beads permit the stiffening element be reshaped to adjust a longitudinal curvature of the stiffening element.

A tool for fabricating a control surface is disclosed. In various embodiments, the tool includes a first block defining a longitudinal direction running between a leading edge end and a trailing edge end; a first sidewall spaced a first lateral distance from the first block to form a first closeout channel running in the longitudinal direction between the first block and the first sidewall; and a second sidewall configured to form a second closeout channel running in the longitudinal direction, the second closeout channel disposed laterally opposite the tool from the first closeout channel.

A forming method according to the present disclosure includes a laminating step for forming an intermediate formed article by supplying and laminating a fibrous sheet onto forming surfaces of a forming die for forming the intermediate formed article; and a bending process step for performing a bending process on the intermediate formed article, which is laminated on the forming surfaces and has a shape that corresponds to the forming die, to yield a formed article. The forming surfaces have shapes that correspond to the intermediate formed article to be formed. The second forming surface is bent with respect to the first forming surface among the forming surfaces, and the angle formed by the first forming surface and the second forming surface is greater than the bending angle of the cross-section of the formed article to be formed and less than 180 degrees.

A tool for fabricating a control surface is disclosed. In various embodiments, the tool includes a first block defining a longitudinal direction running between a leading edge end and a trailing edge end; a first sidewall spaced a first lateral distance from the first block to form a first closeout channel running in the longitudinal direction between the first block and the first sidewall; and a second sidewall configured to form a second closeout channel running in the longitudinal direction, the second closeout channel disposed laterally opposite the tool from the first closeout channel.

A method of manufacturing an arc-shaped fiber composite component includes forming a preform with a planar fiber layer arrangement formed along an arc and having an outer edge assigned to a convex outer side of the arc. The outer edge is formed with gaps extending into the arrangement in such a manner that a contour of the gaps is formed at least in sections near a target contour of a respective recess to be provided in the component. The preform is formed such that a first region of the arrangement, adjacent to the outer edge and extending substantially in the direction of the arc, is bent or angled relative to a second region of the arrangement, adjacent to the first region remote from the outer side of the arc. The gaps that the preform has prior to reshaping merge into recesses of the formed preform and remain open.

A method of manufacturing a radius filler may include providing a plurality of fibers, braiding the plurality of fibers into a braided preform, shaping the braided preform into a braided radius filler, and cutting the braided radius filler to a desired length.

Control and stabilizing cables and tendons for high altitude aircraft and airships having lightweight, high strength and low CTE are disclosed, along with a method and machine for fabrication of same. The cable is comprised of a fiber prepreg tow encased in a polymer sleeve with one bobbin at each end to facilitate connections. Consolidating the fiber prepreg tow along the length of the cable using high temperature shrink tubing, such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), allows for eliminating the twisting of the fiber prepreg tow, thus reducing the number of wraps around the bobbins. Eliminating the twists in the fiber prepreg tow also reduces the length of fiber needed, and therefore the overall change in length of the control cable with temperature variations is reduced. Additional cable strength can be achieved by adding and holding significant tension on the fiber prepreg tow by applying weight during the curing process.

A die tool for forming a C-section component having radiused shoulders, the includes a cylindrical inner die and an outer die having a cylindrical central portion connected to opposing end flanges by respective radiused concave portions. A portion of the inner die is arranged to be disposed between the end flanges of the outer die and spaced apart therefrom to define a cavity corresponding to the desired cross-section of the C-section component to be formed. The radiused convex and concave portions have a radius of curvature that varies about the circumference of the respective inner and outer dies. The inner and outer dies are rotatable such that the radius of curvature of the radiused convex and concave portions where the inner and outer dies are adjacent to one another varies as the inner and outer dies are rotated.

The invention relates to a system for shaping laminar composite materials, comprising a base (1) with at least one longitudinal mandrel element (2) comprising a shape to be given to a stack of composite material (3) arranged on the mandrel element (2) for obtaining a formed stack (3′) of composite material, and at least one pressure rolling forming device (4) assembled in a support carriage (5) such that it is capable of placing the pressure rolling forming device (4) in at least one position in which it rolls over the stack of composite material (3) pressing it against the mandrel element (2) for forming it and obtaining the formed stack (3′), the pressure rolling forming device (4) comprising a rolling hollow cover (4a) made of elastically flexible material with a tread (4b), and the rolling hollow cover (4a) being susceptible to containing: a fill fluid at a fill pressure and/or a plurality of particles (27) which allow the tread (4b) to elastically adapt to the shape of the mandrel element (2) and exert a chosen pressure on the stack of composite material (3).