Ramped composite structural member for aircraft, and method of forming the same

Abstract

A composite structural member for an aircraft, the composite structural member having a ramped region and comprising a plurality of composite plies arranged upon one another in a thickness direction; wherein, in the ramped region, the composite plies include at least first and second subsets of composite plies, each subset comprising a plurality of composite plies; and wherein the second subset of composite plies is staggered in a ramp direction relative to the first subset of composite plies, the staggering producing a flat surface region on the second subset of composite plies, suitable for seating a fastener thereon in use. A method of forming such a composite structural member by resin transfer moulding, and a method of designing such a composite structural member, are also provided.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.