Abstract: A panel assembly with a panel and a stringer is disclosed. The stringer has a stringer foot and an upstanding stringer web. The stringer foot has a flange which extends in a widthwise direction between the stringer web and a lateral edge and in a lengthwise direction alongside the stringer web, and a foot run-out which extends between the flange and a tip of the stringer foot. The foot run-out is bonded to the panel at a foot run-out interface. Reinforcement elements, such as tufts, pass through the foot run-out interface into the panel. The reinforcement elements are distributed across the foot run-out interface in a series of rows including an end row nearest to the tip of the stringer foot and further rows spaced progressively further from the tip of the stringer foot. At least the end row has three or more of the reinforcement elements which are distributed along a polygonal curve.

Abstract: A panel assembly with a panel and a stringer is disclosed. The stringer has a stringer foot and an upstanding stringer web. The stringer foot has a flange which extends in a widthwise direction between the stringer web and a lateral edge and in a lengthwise direction alongside the stringer web, and a foot run-out which extends between the flange and a tip of the stringer foot. The foot run-out is bonded to the panel at a foot run-out interface. Reinforcement elements, such as tufts, pass through the foot run-out interface. At least some of the reinforcement elements are inclined relative to the foot run-out interface.

Abstract: A panel assembly with a panel and a stringer is disclosed. The stringer has a stringer foot and an upstanding stringer web. The stringer foot has a flange which extends in a widthwise direction between the stringer web and a lateral edge and in a lengthwise direction alongside the stringer web, and a foot run-out which extends between the flange and a tip of the stringer foot. The foot run-out is bonded to the panel at a foot run-out interface. Reinforcement elements, such as tufts, pass through the foot run-out interface into the panel. The reinforcement elements are distributed across the foot run-out interface in a series of rows including an end row nearest to the tip of the stringer foot and further rows spaced progressively further from the tip of the stringer foot. At least the end row has three or more of the reinforcement elements which are distributed along a polygonal curve.

Abstract: A panel assembly with a panel and a stringer is disclosed. The stringer has a stringer foot and an upstanding stringer web. The stringer foot has a flange which extends in a widthwise direction between the stringer web and a lateral edge and in a lengthwise direction alongside the stringer web, and a foot run-out which extends between the flange and a tip of the stringer foot. The foot run-out is bonded to the panel at a foot run-out interface. Reinforcement elements, such as tufts, pass through the foot run-out interface. At least some of the reinforcement elements are inclined relative to the foot run-out interface.

Abstract: A method of forming a laminar composite structure. A stack of composite layers is assembled on a layup tool, each composite layer comprising a fibre-reinforced matrix material. The composite layers include an inner composite layer and an outer composite layer. During assembly of the stack, a series of spacers are placed in a selected part of the stack, each spacer comprising a spacer matrix material. Each spacer is sandwiched between a respective adjacent pair of the composite layers. The selected part of the stack forms a bulge, and the outer composite layer has a greater path length at the bulge than the inner composite layer. After assembly of the stack, a bend is formed in the stack with the outer composite layer towards an outside of the bend and the inner composite layer towards an inside of the bend, the bend in the stack coinciding with the bulge. During or after formation of the bend in the stack, excess matrix material in liquid form flows out of the bulge.