摘要 |
A laminated composite material (100) comprising a polymeric matrix material (130) and plurality of fibre layers (110) is heated to a first pre-determined temperature which is defined as the temperature at which there is a first pre-determined time interval until the matrix material reaches its gel point. The first pre-determined time interval being defined as the time required to insert the required quantity of through-thickness reinforcement fibres into the laminated material. A plurality of holes (180) is formed in the laminated material; each hole being formed by inserting a needle (160) having a conical tip (170), into the laminated material. A reinforcing element (190) is then inserted into each of a respective one of the plurality of holes. |