Patent ID: 8734925

Claim:
A moldable structure comprising: a moldable body comprising: a central portion comprising unidirectional fiber reinforcement and an uncured thermosetting resin that has a curing temperature at which said uncured thermosetting resin is converted from a moldable resin to a solid resin having a glass transition temperature that is above said curing temperature, said central portion comprising an internal surface that defines a chamber located within said central portion; solid end portions located at each end of said central portion, said end portions comprising randomly oriented segments of unidirectional fiber tape; and a solid mandrel located within said chamber, said solid mandrel being in contact with said internal surface to provide shape thereto, said solid mandrel comprising a material having a melting point at which said solid mandrel material melts to form a liquid material that can be drained out through a hole in said internal surface, said melting point being above said curing temperature and below said glass transition temperature.