Composite flange, manufacture of the flange and duct or casing with the flange

摘要

The flange (1) is a curved hollow member that has a substantially triangular cross-section. The method of making the flange (1) includes applying composite material to external surfaces of a curved solid mandrel of triangular cross-section and then cured. The flange (1) can be a closed annulus or merely a section, a plurality of which form the annulus or a channel profile for application to a duct (11) or casing or open channel member. The mandrel can be foam material or removable after flange forming by being soluble or comprising a plurality of separable parts. Applied to the duct (11), the flange (1) is placed close to a duct end with the duct end darted, the darts (11B) being bent over against a radial wall of the flange. A filler (15) is applied to a vertex of the flange walls and is overlaid with plies (11C) of composite material.