Method of manufacturing an elongate structural element configured for stiffening a shell structure, and a method for manufacturing a rigid shell structure integrated with at least one elongate stiffening element

A method for manufacturing a rigid shell structure integrated with at least one elongate stiffening element, comprising the steps of:

• placing an uncured shell structure of composite material on a base-forming body,
• placing on the uncured shell structure at least one preformed, form-stable elongate, load-carrying reinforcement member, said reinforcement member having a web portion with a surface configuration corresponding to an inner surface of a web portion of the stiffening element, and two flange portions directed inwardly to oppose each other while engaging an opposite surface of the uncured shell structure,
• applying an elongate hat profile of uncured composite material over the at least one reinforcement member, so that a web portion of the hat profile covers the web portion of the reinforcement member, and two outwardly directed flange portions of the hat profile engage the opposite surface of the uncured shell structure, and
• curing the elongate hat profile together with the preformed reinforcement member and the shell structure so as to form a stiffened integral shell structure.

A method for manufacturing a rigid shell structure with at least one elongate stiffening element, comprising the steps of:

• placing on a base-forming body having a surface corresponding to a predetermined shell structure surface, to which the stiffening element is to be attached, a preformed form-stable, elongate, load-carrying reinforcement member, said reinforcement member having a web portion with a surface configuration corresponding to an inner surface of a web portion of the stiffening element, and two flange portions directed inwardly to oppose each other while engaging an opposite surface of the base-forming body,
• applying an elongate hat profile of uncured composite material over the preformed reinforcement member, so that a web portion of the hat profile covers the web portion of the reinforcement member, and two outwardly directed flange portions of the hat profile engage the opposite surface of the base-forming body,
• curing the elongate hat profile together with the preformed reinforcement member so as to form a preformed, cured, integrated stiffening element, and
• attaching the at least one, preformed stiffing element to a predetermined surface of a preformed shell structure.