Patent ID: 8071171

Claim:
A method for fabricating a spatially controlled preform and variable stiffness material composite laminate, the method comprising: adding and curing a shape memory polymer in a plurality of flexible preforms attached with each other after preforming each of the flexible preforms to form the spatially controlled preform and variable stiffness material composite laminate, wherein the preforming of at least one of the flexible preforms comprises: applying a supporting material to a first surface of a stiff-structural sheet; patterning the supporting material applied to the first surface of the stiff-structural sheet; forming a flexible support on the first surface of the stiff-structural sheet from the patterned supporting material; patterning a second surface of the stiff-structural sheet, the second surface facing away from the first surface; and forming the at least one of the flexible preforms from the patterned stiff-structural sheet on the formed support.