Method for manufacturing hollow reinforcement structures intersecting one another

Method to manufacture a plurality of hollow reinforcement structures for panels or aerostructures in which at least two of said hollow reinforcement structures intersect one another;

• the method comprises the following consecutive steps:
• a) positioning one or more mandrels on a surface of a panel in correspondence to each hollow structure to be manufactured;
• b) laminating at least one composite material layer on top of each mandrel;
• c) polymerizing said panel on which said at least one composite material layer is applied, in a single step of polymerization for all the hollow reinforcement structures;
• d) removing said one or more mandrels from the hollow structures;
• wherein:
• said step of positioning said one or more mandrels comprises providing a single mandrel, which is shaped so as to manufacture hollow structures that intersect one another;
• and
• said step of removing said one or more mandrels from the hollow structures takes place through dissolution, said one or more mandrels being water-soluble mandrels.

Panel or aerostructure comprising:

• an outer surface, which is visible when the panel or aerostructure is positioned;
• and
• an inner surface, which is not visible when said panel or aerostructure is positioned;
• said panel is associated with a plurality of hollow reinforcement structures, which are manufactured according to the method of claim 1.

Panel or aerostructure comprising:

• an outer surface, which is visible when the panel or aerostructure is positioned on an aircraft;
• and
• an inner surface, which is not visible when said panel or aerostructure is positioned on an aircraft;
• said panel is associated with a plurality of hollow reinforcement structures, which are manufactured according to the method of claim 1.