A method of detecting defects in a composite layup includes capturing, using an infrared camera, reference images of a reference layup being laid up by a reference layup head. The method also includes manually reviewing the reference images for defects, and generating reference defect masks indicating defects in the reference images. The method further includes training, using the reference images and reference defect masks, a neural network, creating a machine learning model that, given a production image as input, outputs a production defect mask indicating the defect location and the defect type of each defect. The method also includes capturing, using an infrared camera, production images of a production layup being laid up by the production layup head, and applying the model to the production images to automatically generate a production defect masks indicating each defect in the production images.

An acoustic structure presenting a front surface and a back surface is provided. The acoustic structure includes a support layer comprising the back surface, a honeycomb core comprising a thickness defined between a back and a front, and a plurality of walls that define a plurality of honeycomb cells, wherein the plurality of honeycomb cells extend through the thickness of the honeycomb core opening out toward at least the front, and wherein the back of the honeycomb core is affixed to the support layer, a mesh layer affixed to the front of the honeycomb core, and a knit fabric layer affixed to the mesh layer and conforming to the front surface of the acoustic structure.

Processes for forming fiber reinforced composite aircraft components, i.e., aircraft components formed of a cured fiber-reinforced resin, are provided. According to specific embodiments, a finished surface of the composite aircraft component can be achieved by providing in-mold coating of the cured fiber-reinforced resin by a dried and cured film layer of a water-based primer paint material to thereby achieve a composite aircraft component having an exterior surface that does not necessarily require further finishing.

An approach to seeker windows for aircraft comprises a window layer comprising an IR transparent material, the window layer comprising a first side and a second side substantially opposite the first side; and a heating layer on the first side or the second side of the window layer, the heating layer configured to apply a heating profile to the window layer to reduce thermal shock imparted to the window layer when the seeker window is exposed to hypersonic flight conditions.

A synthetic resin skin material composite, including: a urethane resin skin material including a urethane resin skin layer provided at one surface of a substrate; and a cushion layer that is placed at a surface on an opposite side of the substrate from the surface of the urethane resin skin material at which the urethane resin skin layer is provided; in which the urethane resin skin material has recesses at a side of the urethane resin skin layer, and each of the recesses has a depth in a thickness direction of the synthetic resin skin material composite, such that the recesses extend from the urethane resin skin layer into the cushion layer beyond an interface between the urethane resin skin material and the cushion layer that is present in a region without a recess, as well as a method of producing a synthetic resin skin material composite.

Forming systems and assemblies as disclosed herein comprise a composite material comprising a structural component and a resin component combined with the reinforcing component. A forming element is disposed within the composite material and has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than that of the composite material. The forming element is positioned to provide a desired integral structural reinforcement and/or surface feature to the composite. The composite material may comprise one or more passages extending from a surface thereof to the forming element. The composite material may be cured by heat to take a set configuration and then allowed to cool. The cooling of the composite material and the forming element enables the forming element to contract relative to the composite material and become delaminated therefrom to facilitate easy removal, and thereby provide an improved method and assembly for making structural reinforcing features in composite structures.

A heated composite structure and a method for forming a heated composite structure. The structure includes carbon fibers embedded within a thermoplastic matrix. The carbon fibers are connected with first and second electrodes that are configured to be connected with an electric source such that applying current to the electrodes causes current to flow through the embedded carbon fibers to provide resistive heating sufficient to heat the composite structure to impede formation of ice on the composite structure.

Disclosed is a bonded assembly comprising at least: a first substrate, a second substrate, an intermediate deformation layer secured to the first substrate, the intermediate deformation layer comprising a material in which cavities are provided so that the intermediate deformation layer has a stiffness which is variable along a direction parallel to the intermediate deformation layer, an adhesive between the intermediate layer and the second substrate.

An object of the present invention is to obtain a fiber-reinforced composite material achieving both lightweight properties and mechanical properties at a high level. The present invention provides a fiber-reinforced composite material including a resin (A) and a reinforcing fiber (B), and having: a porous structure portion having micropores with an average pore diameter of 500 μm or less as measured by a mercury intrusion method; and a coarse cavity portion defined by the porous structure portion and having a maximum length of more than 500 μm as a cross-sectional opening portion.

An aircraft flooring system is provided, made up of a low-weight carpet tile which functions both as a moisture barrier and as the loop part of a hook-and-loop system, for coupling to a hook part of a hook-and-loop system, which is bound to an aircraft floor. Specifically, a barrier backing within the carpet tile, comprising a nonwoven fabric portion, is able to act as the moisture barrier and the loop part, which allows for coupling of the carpet tile with the floor, without the need to add additional loops to the carpet tile, thereby realizing savings in material cost and weight.