SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MONOLITHIC STRUCTURES USING EXPANDING INTERNAL TOOLS

摘要

A tooling system may include an outer mold line (OML) tool (202) and one or more inner mold line (IML) tools (250, 252). The OML tool (202) may have an OML tool surface (203). Each one of the IML tools (250, 252) may have an IML tool surface (258) and may be receivable within the OML tool (202). Each IML tool (250, 252) may be formed of expandable material. Each IML tool (250, 252) may apply an internal compaction pressure to a composite assembly (154) positioned between the OML tool surface (203) and the IML tool surface (258) when the expandable material is heated.