Patent ID: 8663526

Claim:
A method for molding a curved member made of composite material formed from a first composite strip extending along a longitudinal axis formed by at least two tapes of unidirectional reinforcing fibers arranged in orientations different to the longitudinal axis, comprising: pre-impregnating the tapes with resin and pre-compacting the tapes at a specified pressure and temperature; applying the first strip longitudinally on a first silicone flexible mandrel, by compaction under vacuum at a second temperature, to confer a specific shape of the first mandrel to the first strip; depositing said resulting first strip onto a heated metal tool having a curve that complements the shape of the first mandrel and forming a core of a pressure and temperature application mold, to confer to the first strip a desired shape of the curved member by progressively winding the first flexible mandrel; removing the first flexible mandrel once the first strip has been deposited in full; pressurizing the mold and bringing the mold to temperature over the assembly thus obtained for polymerization; and extracting the member thus formed after cooling, wherein the member is formed from at least two reinforcing fiber composite strips, which include the first strip and a second strip, formed respectively on the first silicone flexible mandrel and a second silicone flexible mandrel, and after the first strip is deposited onto said tool and removed from the first silicone mandrel, the second strip is deposited on the first strip by progressively winding the second flexible mandrel, before removing the second mandrel, and pressure and temperature are then applied for molding the curved member made of composite material.