Abstract: Plies of continuous fiber material are oriented and cut to the intended shape of a structural component, such as the vertical tail of an aircraft. Two skins or laminates are created by laying the cut-to-shape plies into a matched mold, with over-woven or over-braided mandrels or similar tooling details placed between the skins. The mold is closed and a thermosetting resin is injected into the mold to fully impregnate any fibers that were unimpregnated at the time of mold closure and to fully fill all void areas inside the mold. The mold is held closed with pressure, such as by a press, and heated to cure the resin while the resin in the mold is subjected to a hydrostatic pressure sufficient to constrain growth of voids. The contiguous faces of the impregnated braid or weave covering the mandrels are united by the resin, forming vertical or angular laminate between the inner faces of the skins.

Abstract: Plies of continuous fiber material are oriented and cut to the intended shape of a structural component, such as the vertical tail of an aircraft. Two skins or laminates are created by laying the cut-to-shape plies into a matched mold, with over-woven or over-braided mandrels or similar tooling details placed between the skins. The mold is closed and a thermosetting resin is injected into the mold to fully impregnate any fibers that were unimpregnated at the time of mold closure and to fully fill all void areas inside the mold. The mold is held closed with pressure, such as by a press, and heated to cure the resin while the resin in the mold is subjected to a hydrostatic pressure sufficient to constrain growth of voids. The contiguous faces of the impregnated braid or weave covering the mandrels are united by the resin, forming vertical or angular laminate between the inner faces of the skins.

Abstract: A quantity of fluid resin material is rendered into a flowable state without the use of solvents. The fabric then is beaded with at least one elongate bead of the flowable resin, wherein at least a portion of bead remains on the surface of the fabric to tackify the fabric and facilitate lay-up of the beaded fabric in the composite molding process. The fabric then is laid-up into a molding apparatus, wherein the bead adheres to surfaces in the molding apparatus and assists in positioning of the fabric therein. A further quantity of resin is disposed or injected under pressure into the molding apparatus and into contact with the fabric and contours of the mold. The resin then is cured to form the composite body.

Abstract: A quantity of fluid resin material is rendered into a flowable state without the use of solvents. The fabric then is beaded with at least one elongate bead of the flowable resin, wherein at least a portion of bead remains on the surface of the fabric to tackify the fabric and facilitate lay-up of the beaded fabric in the composite molding process. The fabric then is laid-up into a molding apparatus, wherein the bead adheres to surfaces in the molding apparatus and assists in positioning of the fabric therein. A further quantity of resin is disposed or injected under pressure into the molding apparatus and into contact with the fabric and contours of the mold. The resin then is cured to form the composite body.