Apparatus and methods for repairing composite laminates

A method for repairing a composite laminate by infusion of a flowable matrix material into a porous region in the composite laminate via a face of the composite laminate, the face comprising an area overlaying a location of the porous region in the composite laminate, the method comprising:

• infusing the flowable matrix material into a space in the composite laminate through a first portion of the area of the face of the composite laminate and into a passageway in fluid communication with the space, the passageway being defined between a structural pin disposed in a formed hole extending at least partially through the composite laminate, and a wall of the formed hole;
• distributing the flowable matrix material across at least some of the first portion of the area of the face;
• while hindering a flow of the flowable matrix out of the first portion of the area via the face of the composite laminate, drawing the flowable matrix material in the first portion of the area into the porous region and causing some of the flowable matrix material to exit the porous region via a second portion of the area outside the first portion of the area;
• and
• curing the flowable matrix material infused into the space and into the passageway while the structural pin is in the formed hole.

A method for infusing a flowable matrix material into a space in a composite laminate, the method comprising:

• supplying the flowable matrix material at an inlet location on the composite laminate, the inlet location being in fluid communication with the space in the composite laminate;
• infusing the flowable matrix material into the space in the composite laminate using a pressure differential between the inlet location and a first location in the composite laminate, the first location being in fluid communication with the inlet location via the space in the composite laminate;
• ceasing to infuse the flowable matrix material into the space using the first location;
• infusing the flowable matrix material into the space in the composite laminate using a pressure differential between the inlet location and a second location in the composite laminate, the second location being in fluid communication with the inlet location via the space in the composite laminate;
• and
• ceasing to infuse the flowable matrix material into the space using the second location.