Albany Engineered Composites, Inc.

Michael McClain

Jonathan Goering

A three-dimensional corner lap joint preform and a method of forming a three-dimensional corner lap joint preform including a woven flange with one or more legs that extend from the flange. The legs may include one or more independently woven portions which allow formation of a corner without darting the leg or adding additional reinforcement. The independently woven portions may include warp fibers which are not woven into the preform. The unwoven area allows removal of a portion of the leg prior to formation of the corner, allowing the portions of the leg to overlap and form a lap joint.

Three-dimensional woven corner fitting with lap joint preforms

A corner fitting preform and a method of forming a corner fitting preform including steps integrally weaving a base or parent material with one or more flanges or legs that extend from the base is disclosed. The flat woven preform includes specially engineered areas within the legs or flanges that have continuous warp yarns which are not woven. The unwoven areas provide a hinge which allows the flanges of the preform to fold around a corner. After folding, the excess unwoven warp yarns are pulled back through the woven portion of the legs or flanges to produce a preform with continuous warp yarn reinforcement around the corner.

Corner fitting preforms and method of making thereof

A reinforcement for a darted three-dimensional Pi or T-shaped preform, a method of making thereof and a composite structure including the reinforcement is disclosed. The reinforcement is a steered fabric having a width, a length, a first face surface and a second face surface separated by a thickness. The first face surface of the steered fabric is affixed to a darted component of the preform. The steered fabric reinforcement can be a single layer or multilayer fabric, which can be woven using a programmable take up system.

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Barnstead, NH, United States of America

Michael McClain