Composite flange from braided preform

A method comprising:

• providing a fabric preform comprising:
• a plurality of fiber wraps each including at least a body section fiber wrap portion, a transition section fiber wrap portion, and a flange section fiber wrap portion, each body section fiber wrap portion including a plurality of axial tows braided with at least a plurality of first bias tows and a plurality of second bias tows, each transition section fiber wrap portion including at least a plurality of braid interfaces disposed at a flange end, and each flange section fiber wrap portion including at least a first braided flange layer and a second braided flange layer, neither the first nor second braided flange layers having axial tows, the first braided flange layer defined by at least first and second bias tows;
• securing the fabric preform with the body section fiber wrap portions formed into a tubular shape, and with the plurality of axial tows aligned generally along a component circumferential direction to define a body section of the fabric preform;
• upturning the flange section fiber wrap portions proximate to the transition section fiber wrap portions relative to the body section to define a flange section of the fabric preform, and to define a transition section at a flange end of the body section;
• impregnating the fabric preform with an uncured matrix composition;
• and
• curing the impregnated preform to form a composite case or a precursor thereof, such that the body section, the transition section, and the flange section are encompassed within the matrix composition.

A gas turbine engine component comprising:

• a plurality of fiber wraps encompassed within a matrix composition;
• a body section including a plurality of body section fiber wrap portions formed into a tubular shape and encompassed within the matrix composition, the plurality of body section fiber wrap portions each including a plurality of axial tows braided with at least a plurality of first bias tows and a plurality of second bias tows, the body section fiber wrap portions arranged such that at least some of the plurality of axial tows are generally aligned along a component circumferential direction;
• and
• a flange section including a plurality of flange section fiber wrap portions encompassed within the matrix composition, the plurality of flange section fiber wrap portions each including a first braided flange layer and a second braided flange layer, the first braided flange layer defined by at least first and second bias tows connected to the first and second bias tows of the body section, neither the first nor second braided flange layers having axial tows;
• wherein the second braided flange layer includes a plurality of third bias tows braided with a plurality of fourth bias tows;
• and
• wherein the plurality of third bias tows are oriented at an angle measuring about 30° relative to an axial direction, and the plurality of fourth bias tows are oriented at an angle measuring about −30° relative to the axial direction of the plurality of fiber wraps.