Abstract: A stiffener includes a stiffener body having a first stiffener end and a second stiffener end and a generally elliptical stiffener end termination provided in at least one of the first stiffener end and the second stiffener end of the stiffener body.

Abstract: There is provided a method of making a composite hat stiffener. The method has the steps of curing a composite hat stiffener in a hat tool to form a pre-cured composite hat stiffener. The pre-cured composite hat stiffener has a composite hat section, a plurality of composite stiffening plies with a body ply, a wrap ply, and a base ply, all coupled to the composite hat section, wherein the body ply is coupled to a first side of the composite hat section, the wrap ply is coupled to the body ply, and the base ply is coupled to the body ply and the wrap ply, a pair of radius filler noodles coupled to the composite hat section and disposed between the plurality of composite stiffening plies, and an outer ply coupled to the composite hat section. The method further includes bonding the pre-cured composite hat stiffener to a structure surface.

Abstract: A storage container, which may be a fuel bladder, includes a container wall configured to retain a fluid within the container and an opening through the container wall. The container includes a rim of the container wall surrounding the opening and a non-planar flex region of the container wall adjacent to the rim. The flex region includes at least one resilient crease in the container wall and the rim is between the flex region and the opening. A portion of the container wall surrounds the flex region. The flex region exhibits the property of allowing movement of the rim with respect to the portion of the container wall.

Abstract: There is provided a method of making a composite hat stiffener. The method has the steps of curing a composite hat stiffener in a hat tool to form a pre-cured composite hat stiffener. The pre-cured composite hat stiffener has a composite hat section, a plurality of composite stiffening plies with a body ply, a wrap ply, and a base ply, all coupled to the composite hat section, wherein the body ply is coupled to a first side of the composite hat section, the wrap ply is coupled to the body ply, and the base ply is coupled to the body ply and the wrap ply, a pair of radius filler noodles coupled to the composite hat section and disposed between the plurality of composite stiffening plies, and an outer ply coupled to the composite hat section. The method further includes bonding the pre-cured composite hat stiffener to a structure surface.

Abstract: There is provided a composite hat stiffener, a composite hat-stiffened pressure web, and a method of making the same. The composite hat stiffener has a composite hat section having a first side and a second side. The composite hat stiffener further has a plurality of composite stiffening plies coupled to the composite hat section. The plurality of composite stiffening plies include a body ply coupled to the first side of the composite hat section, a wrap ply coupled the body ply, and a base ply coupled to the body ply and the wrap ply. The composite hat stiffener further has a pair of radius filler noodles coupled to the composite hat section and disposed between the plurality of composite stiffening plies. The composite hat stiffener further has an outer ply coupled to the second side of the composite hat section.

Abstract: There is provided a composite hat stiffener, a composite hat-stiffened pressure web, and a method of making the same. The composite hat stiffener has a composite hat section having a first side and a second side. The composite hat stiffener further has a plurality of composite stiffening plies coupled to the composite hat section. The plurality of composite stiffening plies include a body ply coupled to the first side of the composite hat section, a wrap ply coupled the body ply, and a base ply coupled to the body ply and the wrap ply. The composite hat stiffener further has a pair of radius filler noodles coupled to the composite hat section and disposed between the plurality of composite stiffening plies. The composite hat stiffener further has an outer ply coupled to the second side of the composite hat section.

Abstract: An energy absorbing system may include a structure formed of an inner face sheet and an outer face sheet and having a core positioned therebetween. The structure may have a leading edge. An impact member formed of a plastically deformable material may be positioned with the inner face sheet within an area of the leading edge. The impact member may absorb energy from an impact of a projectile with the leading edge and redistributing the energy of the impact to the structure.

Abstract: An energy absorbing system may include a structure formed of an inner face sheet and an outer face sheet and having a core positioned therebetween. The structure may have a leading edge. An impact member formed of a plastically deformable material may be positioned with the inner face sheet within an area of the leading edge. The impact member may absorb energy from an impact of a projectile with the leading edge and redistributing the energy of the impact to the structure.

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus and system for leading edge structures includes an impact member, such as a “bird-band”, of a plastically deformable material of a predetermined configuration positioned with the structure in an area of the leading edge of the structure to absorb energy of an impact of a projectile with the leading edge of the structure, and to redistribute the energy of the impact to the structure, and can break up the projectile, and can increase the impact area. The structure can have one or more sheet members, such as a single sheet, or an inner face sheet and an outer face sheet with a core positioned between the inner face sheet and the outer face sheet. One or more impact members of the plastically deformable material can be positioned with one or more of the single sheet, the inner face sheet, the outer face sheet or the core.

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus and system for leading edge structures includes an impact member, such as a “bird-band”, of a plastically deformable material of a predetermined configuration positioned with the structure in an area of the leading edge of the structure to absorb energy of an impact of a projectile with the leading edge of the structure, and to redistribute the energy of the impact to the structure, and can break up the projectile, and can increase the impact area. The structure can have one or more sheet members, such as a single sheet, or an inner face sheet and an outer face sheet with a core positioned between the inner face sheet and the outer face sheet. One or more impact members of the plastically deformable material can be positioned with one or more of the single sheet, the inner face sheet, the outer face sheet or the core.