Abstract: A preform for a carbon-carbon composite including a plurality of fibrous layers stacked and needled-punched together to form the preform in the shape of an annulus having an inner radial section and an outer radial section. Each fibrous layer includes a respective plurality of fabric segments comprising at least one of carbon fibers or carbon-precursor fibers. At least one fibrous layer includes a first fabric segment forming at least a portion the inner radial section, the first fabric segment defining a first segment bisector and a first fiber orientation angle, and a second fabric segment forming at least a portion the outer radial section, the second fabric segment defining a second segment bisector and a second fiber orientation angle, where the first and second segment bisectors are radially aligned and the first fiber orientation angle is different than the second fiber orientation angle.

Abstract: A preform for a carbon-carbon composite including a plurality of fibrous layers stacked and needled-punched together to form the preform in the shape of an annulus having an inner radial section and an outer radial section. Each fibrous layer includes a respective plurality of fabric segments comprising at least one of carbon fibers or carbon-precursor fibers. At least one fibrous layer includes a first fabric segment forming at least a portion the inner radial section, the first fabric segment defining a first segment bisector and a first fiber orientation angle, and a second fabric segment forming at least a portion the outer radial section, the second fabric segment defining a second segment bisector and a second fiber orientation angle, where the first and second segment bisectors are radially aligned and the first fiber orientation angle is different than the second fiber orientation angle.

Abstract: A preform for a carbon-carbon composite including a plurality of fibrous layers superposed and needled-punched together. Each fibrous layer of the plurality of fibrous layers includes web fibers and tow fibers that each include at least one of carbon fibers or carbon-precursor fibers. The plurality of fibrous layers includes a first, a second, and a third fibrous layer, the third fibrous layer positioned between the first and the second fibrous layers. The third fibrous layer includes at least one of a ratio of web fibers to tow fibers that is less than a ratio of web fibers to tow fibers of the first fibrous layer, an areal weight that is greater than an areal weight of the first fibrous layer, or a pre-needled thickness that is greater than a pre-needled thickness the first fibrous layer.