초록 ▼

Slits of precisely controlled length are cut in a layer of material having collimated fibers. Each slit begins at a defined coordinate point and proceeds diagonally at an acute angle relative to the axial direction of the fibers. Subsequent slits are initiated at coordinate points relative to the st

Slits of precisely controlled length are cut in a layer of material having collimated fibers. Each slit begins at a defined coordinate point and proceeds diagonally at an acute angle relative to the axial direction of the fibers. Subsequent slits are initiated at coordinate points relative to the starting coordinate point of the previous slit. The region of fibers located above and below each slit are referred to as upper and lower fiber bands, respectively. The lower bands are substantially aligned in a zonal band that runs perpendicular to the lengths of the fibers. The location of the beginning coordinate point for each slit defining a zonal band is defined by adding a random length dimension to a previous starting coordinate point. The maximum length of the cut fibers may be determined in accordance with the intended application and process. For example, in the case of a corrugated shape that is made by forming a flat laminate into the final corrugated shape in one step, the maximum fiber length is limited to a dimension somewhat less than the period of the corrugations. The minimum length of the fibers is selected to assure maximum load-carrying capacity of the finished composite component.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of intentionally inflicting controlled damage to create a conformable material, comprising the steps of:(a) impregnating continuous unidirectional collimated fibers with a resinous matrix to form a web, which is then cut to define sheets of material wherein the fibers extend in a longitu

1. A method of intentionally inflicting controlled damage to create a conformable material, comprising the steps of:(a) impregnating continuous unidirectional collimated fibers with a resinous matrix to form a web, which is then cut to define sheets of material wherein the fibers extend in a longitudinal direction; (b) forming a series of slits in the sheets that are diagonal to the longitudinal direction of the fibers, such that the collimated fibers are cut into segmented fibers having precisely-controlled lengths and ends that are diagonal to the longitudinal direction; and (c) laying the sheets on a tool having a corrugated contour with multiple peaks to form a laminate in which the segmented fibers have lengths that are less than a period of the corrugated contour as as to avoid the fiber ends being pinned against adjacent peaks.