Apparatus and methods for repairing composite laminates

An apparatus for infusing a flowable matrix material into a porous region in a composite laminate via a surface of the composite laminate, the apparatus comprising:

• a vacuum barrier covering at least a first portion of an area of the surface of the composite laminate overlaying a location of the porous region in the composite laminate, the vacuum barrier defining an enclosed volume comprising the first portion of the area of the surface of the composite laminate;
• a supply of flowable matrix material available to the first portion of the area of the surface of the composite laminate;
• a flow barrier hindering a flow of the flowable matrix material out of the first portion of the area via the surface of the composite laminate, the flow barrier being positioned between the first portion of the area and a second portion of the area, the second portion of the area being outside the first portion of the area;
• a vacuum source in fluid communication with the enclosed volume and configured to cause the flowable matrix material in the first portion of the area to be drawn into the porous region, the vacuum source being in fluid communication with the second portion of the area to draw the flowable matrix material out of the porous region via the second portion of the area;
• and
• a sealing member extending from the vacuum barrier and contacting the surface of the composite laminate so that the sealing member circumscribes at least a portion of the area of the surface of the composite laminate.