METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A FABRIC PREFORM FOR A COMPOSITE MATERIAL BY SEPARATELY TENSIONING TOWS

摘要

Disclosed are methods and devices for the formation of fabric preforms (20) that may be subsequently impregnated with a resin to form a composite component (18). One end of a fabric (44) is received on the form (54) such that the axial tows (46) of the fabric (44) extend in a direction generally perpendicular to a central axis (C-C) of the form (54). At least some of the plurality of axial tows (46) are separately tensioned on an end of the fabric (44) not attached to the form (54) and the fabric (44) is wrapped around the form (54) by rotating the fabric (44) and form (54) relative to one another about the central axis (C-C).