Method and system for manufacturing a cured composite structure

A method for manufacturing a cured composite structure using a rigid tool that defines one or more troughs therein, one or more first stringers, one or more second stringers, and a panel, the panel comprising a first side and a second side opposed from the first side, the method comprising:

• for each first stringer of the one or more first stringers, (i) positioning the first stringer on the rigid tool such that the first stringer is at least partially within a trough of the one or more troughs and (ii) positioning a substantially rigid mandrel on the first stringer such that the substantially rigid mandrel is at least partially within the trough;
• positioning the panel over the one or more first stringers and over the substantially rigid mandrel such that the first side of the panel faces toward the one or more first stringers and toward the substantially rigid mandrel, and the second side of the panel faces away from the one or more first stringers and away from the substantially rigid mandrel;
• and
• for each second stringer of the one or more second stringers, (i) positioning a flexible mandrel on the second side of the panel and (ii) positioning the second stringer over the flexible mandrel.

A method for manufacturing a cured composite structure using a rigid tool that defines one or more troughs therein, one or more first stringers, one or more second stringers, and a panel, the panel comprising a first side and a second side opposed from the first side, the method comprising:

• for each first stringer of the one or more first stringers, (i) positioning the first stringer on the rigid tool such that the first stringer is at least partially within a trough of the one or more troughs and (ii) positioning a flexible mandrel on the first stringer such that the flexible mandrel is at least partially within the trough;
• positioning the panel over the one or more first stringers and over the flexible mandrel such that the first side of the panel faces toward the one or more first stringers and toward the flexible mandrel, and the second side of the panel faces away from the one or more first stringers and away from the flexible mandrel;
• and
• for each second stringer of the one or more second stringers, (i) positioning a substantially rigid mandrel on the second side of the panel and (ii) positioning the second stringer over the substantially rigid mandrel.

A system for manufacturing a cured composite structure comprising a panel having a first side and a second side opposed from the first side, one or more first stringers connected to the first side, and one or more second stringers connected to the second side, the system comprising:

• one or more substantially rigid mandrels, each substantially rigid mandrel positioned within a first cavity defined between a first stringer of the one or more first stringers and the first side of the panel;
• one or more flexible mandrels, each flexible mandrel positioned within a second cavity defined between a second stringer of the one or more second stringers and the second side of the panel;
• and
• a curing oven configured to receive therein the panel, the one or more first stringers, the one or more second stringers, the one or more substantially rigid mandrels, and the one or more flexible mandrels.