Patent ID: 8303761

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a curved element made of composite material, comprising the following steps: a) preparing a dry, flat preform comprising at least one dry, flat reinforcing layer with curved fibres, said dry, flat preform being elongated along a curved longitudinal axis, b) combining a resin film with the dry, flat preform, c) applying heat and pressure to the combined preform and resin film in a controlled manner to bring about the infusion of the resin into the preform and to obtain at least one layer of pre-infused preform, d) preparing at least one prepreg layer with straight fibres impregnated with resin compatible with the resin of the pre-infused preform, e) superimposing the pre-infused preform and the at least one prepreg layer on one another in accordance with a predetermined flat arrangement, to obtain a layered structure, wherein the straight fibres of the prepreg layer are oriented at an angle greater than 70 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the preform, positioning the layered structure on a tool for hot forming the layered structure to obtain a layered and hot-formed structure, and positioning the layered and hot-formed structure on a shaped support tool; and f) subjecting the layered and hot-formed structure, arranged on the shaped support tool, to a polymerization cycle to obtain the curved element.